One of my good friends, Mr R. Sridhar runs a creativity workshop company called IdeaZrs. Mr Sridhar used to head O&M India earlier, one of India’s top advertising agencies. After a fantastic career there, he set up this firm that tries to unravel creativity and the human mind. As part of that, he took a probing interview with me, asking questions I have never been asked before, and I had to spend a lot of time thinking answers to.
That interview is now available online, and the link is here.
I hope you enjoy it. Apart from the answers, I think the questions may also be inspiration to aspiring journalists who conduct regular interviews.
Love,
Chetan
My admiration for u is increasing day by day…kudos to RS also…real gud one
Hi Chetan,
You Rock Again. As Usual.
Urschandu…..
Good one. Read that yesterday itself.
Your suggestion to the new writers was the best part.
All the best.
Well done interview. Loved the part on the hypothetical story plot. It shows that thinking out of the box ( in this case the obvious manner in which people would have developed the story) is the way forward in life and which we Indians are not conditioned or tutored for.
Quite honestly, it sucked. Not your answers but the interviewee question. We were jumping from one point to another and not flowing. Difference.But what do I know?? I am not a MBA, sigh!
the questions and answers were really good and I guess he has a kind of freedom with you to have a casual talk like interview. Good Q&A.
enough of mutual admiration clube .
gud one
…read dat 3 times 4m yday..ans were straight 4m ur heart..it was nice reading smthn diffrnt 4m controvrsy..kp it up 
It was a great interview.
Raveesh
Dear Chetan,
I am amazed at the level of sensibility that you have displayed while ending the 3 idiots controversy. I liked the remark you made on CNN IBN where you said that you can buy a painting but cannot say that you painted it. I wish the makers of the film had your sense of maturity and morality.
I’m sorry to leave the following comment even when you’re trying to quit this topic, but I think it will take your fans alot of Hajmolas to digest the disappointment
Anyways, I went back to other hindi movies based on books. ‘The Namesake’ based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s book has in its opening credits in bold letters, ‘Adapted from the book by Jhumpa Lahiri’.Slumdog Millionaire had only ending credits and the 4th credit(after the first 3 went to the Director, Co-Director & Producer) said ‘Based on the novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup’. Parineeta, a Vinod Chopra Production has in its opening credits, just below the title of the film,the line which says ‘A Vinod Chopra Adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s original classic. A film by Pradeep Sarkar film’. The other credits included ‘Story adaptation and Screenplay by’ and ‘Co-written and produced by’. Rajkumar Hirani is one of the Creative Producers of the film.
My findings tell me that by choosing to show your name in the ending credits that too in small font and in a hurried manner, says alot about the pre-conceived plot of the makers to steal credit.
My point after all this? Well, If this topic comes back to you with questions do not hesitate to reiterate your views. 82% of people have said that you deserve story credit in Times of India online poll. Your fans are with you. It is disheartening hate to hear Aamir Khan still say in the interviews that the credit for movie’s success goes to Abhijat Joshi & Raju Hirani for the wonderful script.
I’m done! I wish you peace of mind as much as I wish I had a little for myself. Do take care & keep writing!
Regards,
Anusha
Great work chetan..And is this ur wife ANusha in d last comment?
Have you read the contract Anusha ? whatever has been done, has been done as per the contract. Why should film producer, director show magnanimity ? and before you accus others of being insensitive? how sensitive are you really ? have you never cheated anyone ? how do you treat low-caste persons ? how do you treat beggars ? these are just some examples. I am fed up with people who say directory is insensitive and that is all that can be expected from bollywood folks ? and this coming from the upper caste who practises the highest form of aparthied and racism through casteism.
Indians should learn to talk less and do more.
Indians are the biggest hypocrites in the whole world.
The main reason Chetan got so emotional is because in the movie Rancho ticks off Suhaas for having done IIT, then IIM and then working in the bank. Chetan Bhagat did exactly the same in real life. So maybe he got pissed off, and tried to discredit the movie makers
hey great work chetan!!!!
Good questions – Super Good answers.
Thank you for spreading this knowledge. All what GrEaT people like you do is to enrich and empower.
Thank you.
Hi Chetan
Great Interview Chetan..I wish I could also write someday after reading all ur books and blogs
:)
Keep it up dude..and don’t worry this 3 idiots drama will go in due course of time..Just keep writing and keep rocking like this.
Chetan…you rock! We all support your perspective and absolutely agree with ur views.
Regarding the interview…enjoyed going through it…Thank for posting this up
hi Chetan,
your thoughts are amazing.
earlier I used to think that five point someone has something to do with shyambazar five point crossing
Hey Chetan,i knw u hv no time 2 read my cmment..bt agn i mst say u r a mastr of words..and happy 2 knw that u joind ISCKON tmple.. I joind it 4 1 yr.. And dear! 3 idiots is nt like ur novel..u r right,film maker playd wid ur novel..i cn undrstand it yar! Anyway,god bless u dear,c u later!
Whenever I want to know little about I wish to go deeper and deeper about you. I could not know what to do but after started reading your book i thought that it would be better if i would have get everyday a new book written by you.I really attached the emotions, characters , you have created in your books. I would love to be a good reader of your book, your interview and you too.
U know Chetan…I felt 2 states is very much similar to my life …N i almost got so much into the character that I am still not over with it…U r great ,,,simply superb…all the emotions, words, scnarios, characters..evrything is so so so real..Bishnu is very muchh correct..U shud write a book everyday
Awesome
Hi Chetan,
I was disappointed to see you reacting in the way you did to the “3 idiots” controversy. Think it was all because you wanted to sell more books. As per the contract, it was clearly written what you were getting into.
Think the scare of getting sued put you down finally.. Otherwise, you would have gone to court against them
Regards,
Rahul
brilliant
Hi chetan,
I have read your 3 books.-5 points to someone,1 night @call centre, 3 mistakes of my life.I liked all of them. Your thoughts are very amazing.
I am a very big fan of you. 3 Idiots is a copy of your book – 5 points someone.But don’t worry your fans are always with you.Keep on writing books like this.
Dear Chetan,
A good question answer session between two creative persons about creativity. Are creative persons unsystematic & unplanned? Your creativity brings success to 3 idiots but you being unsystematic and unplanned (true chracterstics of a creative genious) do not get due credit for the same. Be cautious in future.
Regards
Arun Tyagi
HI CHETAN! JUST FINISHED READING 2 STATES. IT’S VERY GOOD! READ IT IN 12 HOURS FLAT, COULDN’T STOP. AND HEY, I HAVE READ 5 POINT ROUGHLY AROUND 10 TIMES! (AND THAT’S NO EXAGGERATION..LOVE IT, THAT’S MY FAVORITE NOVEL), HAVE SEEN 3 IDIOTS 2 TIMES. MUST SAY, THE FILM IS LARGELY BASED ON UR BOOK..I MIGHT JUST BE 1 OF UR BILLION FANS..BUT WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY SUPPORT TO U. TAKE CARE BUDDY!!
chetan….I loved your writing..
but I was not expecting the controversy you created for the credit of 3 Idiots. Only some of the scenes matched to your book, that too not the whole scenes. I have read the interview of Aamir’s long before the release of movie, there u showed your genorousity by saying to Aamir that it is not based on your book. I think you were flown into greed.
Good luck
I am very sorry to all my fan for raising this controversy.
I did not take 3idiots movie seriously as earlier movie based on my book failed so miserably.
But when I saw the success of 3 Idiots, I could not believe it. They did too good job and I felt so bad when they did not put name as prominently as I wished.
Seriously I never worried about it because I did not think it matter but man, this is amazing success and I felt left out.
Finally jealously and greed won over sense and I had to raise this controversy. I did not even wait for movie makers to do anything. Because if they did, I would have not had this chance.
I made sure that I create so much hungama that my name is everywhere and I get more publicity than the movie. The movie guys obviously got mad. I spoiled their fun, but who cares.
I got what I wanted, free publicity, better sales of my book.
You all think I was stupid to take 11 lakhs, but see now, I will make crores from this mess. I won. Hurray.
hello chetan..
u r a master of words…keep on writing such wonderful books….
hv a wonderful life..
good luck
Hi Chetan!
I just finished reading Two states – absolutely amazing book. It actually made me laugh and cry (kind of weird when you are sitting alone at your desk and crying over a book).
I had a question though – how much of it is really based on your marriage? I mean, did you also have to go through all that to marry Anusha?
Love and luck,
Jayati
Mr Bhagat why ur not goin court???take a legal actions against Aamir and Hirani,or you dont have balls???u were cryin like a baby in front of media wot was all that??Aamir is Millions ROLE MODEL STOP PUTTING QUESTION MARK ON HIM!!!well you got wot u wanted PUBLICITY!!!
just checking if you can put any name u want
the earlier chetan bhagat comment is all rubbish… not written by chetan bhagat… i am using that name to prove that the comment admitting that he did this whole drama was to sell more books is written by some ass…lot of grammatical errors… at least we know he won’t do that now, will he…Real name… Ritu
It is indeed an inspiring and an informative interview.Both the questions and answers made it so.As “Mr.Sridhar” felt , “2states” as a bollywood movie.I felt the same.But i am 100% sure that a movie cant be as intresting as “2 States” novel in my view.Dont get me wrong people its just my perception.The book is on a diff level altogether.I just loved “2 states”.Thats it !!
Good day chetan and family.
Some how the feeling has started creeping in that, all the mess was a publicity stunt, may be for the future books. This feeling will grow by day and al the fans will notice it.
The way you resorted to it and the way you left it, sequence of events are making me feel that. And mind you few people have shared the same sentiment with me.
CB
I really appreciate the way you handled 3I controversy. In fact you won the case anyways as now whole world knows who is the real writer of story ..
Liked the interview !!
Praveen
Boston Ma
hi sir, m your nw fan only befor som weeks ago i read ur book “five point someone” n i just lovd it.u created a habbit of reading in me. i have also read two states n i jus movd wid it.there is a humble request can u jus pls mail me ur wedding pic wid ur wife plssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
my id is v.pooja92@yahoo.com. plssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Acting is no rocket science & aamir is is no match to your wit and creativity. (you are no god either!)
In india, people use to worship film stars….and if they showed signs of slight sense they would blindly follow him …but not in this free media age.I wish some day ..film stars will be paid and treated as one would treat any another professional …say lawyer or office clerk.
…but for that we have to make cinema truly competitive ..(.movies like 2012 and avatar had huge success )
make film making less expensive.
more and more drama & acting in school curriculum as option for wannabes.
We are seeing the birth of a new God, this is how Gods were born in the minds of foolish people in the past.
It was really a great Interview…. Great work done Dude
Hi Chetan,
I watched “3 idiots” because I liked your book. I wonder why someone would want to hide that fact since that would actually pull more people to the theaters.
Btw, I liked your latest book 2 states as well.
-Sahana
wow chetan u rock.. your answers were so perfect..fantastic…enjoyed reading it.
lotsa love n wishes
Dr Vedushi
Hey Chetan
I have posted a comment here yesterday and now I see it being removed/ not reflecting. Any reason in particular?
Ekta
Sad that you have removed my comments from your posts even though they were on your side.
I am highly disappointed with this treatment!
Ekta Kapoor…….Television drama queen………….
Chetan Bhagat………..Drama King of the Year 2009!!!!!!!!!