Oct 23, 2026 1:51pm IST
Aamir Khan Confirms Rajkumar Hirani Is Working on ‘3 Idiots’ Sequel, Expects Final Script in Weeks
Aamir Khan has offered a significant update on the much-anticipated sequel to “3 Idiots”, revealing that director Rajkumar Hirani is working on the script and is expected to narrate its final version to him in the coming weeks. The actor shared the update during a conversation at the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), where he received the festival’s Screen Icon Award on October 22.
“I think I can say this much: yes, Raju is working on the script,” Khan said during the session, as reported by The Straits Times. He added that he hoped to hear the final version when he returned to Mumbai in the next couple of weeks, while cautioning that there was still more to be worked out.
The update offers fresh momentum to a sequel to the 2009 comedy-drama, which brought together Khan, R Madhavan and Sharman Joshi as three engineering students navigating the pressures of an unforgiving education system. Directed by Hirani and written by Hirani and Abhijat Joshi, “3 Idiots” became one of Hindi cinema’s most successful films and struck a chord with audiences through its critique of rote learning, parental expectations and the pursuit of conventional success.
Related Stories
While Aamir Khan did not disclose details about the sequel’s plot or confirm a production timeline, his comments indicate that the project is progressing at the writing stage.
The conversation in Singapore also saw the actor look back at the career decisions that helped shape his approach to filmmaking. After the success of his debut as a leading man, “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” (1988), Khan signed nine or ten films within six months. Most of them failed at the box office, leaving him emotionally drained and questioning his choices.
The experience prompted him to establish a principle that would guide his career: he would only commit to a film if he believed in its script, director and producer. He recalled turning down an offer from Mahesh Bhatt despite being at a particularly low point professionally. Khan did not connect with the script and ultimately decided against taking the film on.
Looking back, he believes that decision protected him from a career built on compromises. Bhatt and Aamir Khan would subsequently collaborate on “Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin” and “Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke”.
Khan also spoke candidly about the personal cost of spending decades immersed in work. The Covid-19 pandemic forced him to confront how much time he had missed with his children, his mother and the rest of his family. Having spent roughly three decades describing himself as a workaholic, he said the realisation left him with a profound sense of loss.
The actor has since made a conscious effort to create more time for loved ones. He also spoke about stepping away from his phone and social media, expressing concern about how constant digital stimulation leaves little room for boredom, reflection or imagination.
Khan received the SGIFF Screen Icon Award from Hong Kong filmmaker Peter Chan. The festival is also marking 25 years of “Lagaan”, the period drama Khan produced and starred in, with a special screening as part of its programme.
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.