Lights, camera, action... all at IIM Bangalore

3 Idiots takes Aamir back to college, with Madhavan, Boman Irani and Sharman Joshi as ‘mates’

The Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B) campus has four star residents — actors Aamir Khan, Madhavan, Boman Irani and Sharman Joshi.

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They’re shooting for a film titled 3 Idiots, based on Chetan Bhagat’s Five Point Someone, on the IIM-B campus — classrooms, sports arena, auditorium, cafeteria, et al. Rajkumar Hirani, who is most famous for the Munnabhai series of movies, is directing the film.

This is the first time a feature film is being shot at an IIM; so, the draw for the film’s makers is obvious. But what’s in it for IIM-B? Well, the institute has worked out an academic payoff for itself.

“Some of my faculty colleagues are interviewing the film-makers to develop case studies on the business of films,” said Rajeev Gowda, professor of economics & social sciences, IIM-B. Among other things, these will relate to making forecasts in the notoriously unpredictable industry, optimising the use of resources and improving returns on every film.

“Our students usually intern or work with more mainstream sectors and this will get them to think about entering the entertainment sector, which we haven’t yet tapped,” said Gowda. Another spin-off: The film unit will also make a documentary on IIM-B.

Interestingly, Aamir is living in a spartan guest room at the Management Development Centre (MDC) on the campus. These rooms are very basic and lack creature comforts like TVs and refrigerators. Madhavan, Joshi, and Irani are also staying here.

“They (Aamir and his colleagues) are cool and often join us for tennis, volleyball and badminton,” said V.K. Raman, a student.