It’s a controversy that shows no signs of dying out. After 3 Idiots producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra and actor Aamir Khan, it’s the film’s director Rajkumar Hirani who has jumped to the defence of the film’s team. Responding to author Chetan Bhagat’s accusations about being denied due credit for his book Five Point Someone, on which the movie is based, Hirani said he was "appalled."
“We are appalled by the unnecessary slandering in public by Chetan Bhagat…We never denied Bhagat the credit. I am confused as to why is he saying all these things after the film’s release. There is nothing illegal in it. Chetan is lying,” said Hirani.
Talking about the contract signed between Bhagat and the filmmakers, Hirani says, “We legally purchased the rights of the novel...We also have a clause on page 2 that mentions that Mr Bhagat’s credit would be in the end rolling credits. The agreement was signed in September 2005.” Bhagat was paid a sum of Rs 11 lakh for the rights; Rs 1 lakh was paid in advance and the remaining Rs 10 lakhs were paid at the time of the film’s release.
Bhagat, who wrote on Twitter that he doesn’t want to comment on the matter anymore, also said that he has offered the filmmakers a compromise. He wrote, “There is no point going back and forth with allegations... it only creates drama and no solution. I’d stick to simple facts, and I’ve even offered a compromise, that they may want to consider.”
{{/usCountry}}Bhagat, who wrote on Twitter that he doesn’t want to comment on the matter anymore, also said that he has offered the filmmakers a compromise. He wrote, “There is no point going back and forth with allegations... it only creates drama and no solution. I’d stick to simple facts, and I’ve even offered a compromise, that they may want to consider.”
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