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.