Oct 15, 2026 10:00pm IST
Jung Ho-yeon Praises Aamir Khan’s ‘3 Idiots,’ Says Indian Films Are About Happiness: ‘I Want to Do Something That Brings People Joy’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Jung Ho-yeon has a special place for Indian cinema, and one Hindi film that has stayed with her is Rajkumar Hirani’s “3 Idiots.” The South Korean actor, who won global recognition with Netflix’s “Squid Game,” says she would love to make something that leaves audiences with the kind of happiness and joy she associates with Hindi films.
“I watched ‘3 Idiots’, and I always love that about Hindi films. They are really about happiness. They are really about joyfulness. I truly want to do something that makes people happy and brings joy,” Ho-yeon tells Variety India in an exclusive conversation.
Released in 2009, “3 Idiots,” starring Aamir Khan, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi and Kareena Kapoor Khan, blended comedy and friendship with a critique of India’s education system and the pressure to conform. Its emotional core and storytelling helped the film connect with audiences beyond its home market. For Ho-yeon, the appeal of Indian cinema lies in its ability to make joy an essential part of the cinematic experience.
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The actor is excited about the Indian theatrical release of “Hope,” filmmaker Na Hong-jin’s science fiction thriller. Featuring an ensemble that includes Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, the film brings together Korean and international talent in a story that moves between the familiar and the extraordinary.
For Ho-yeon, taking a film to audiences across different countries comes with a responsibility that extends beyond subtitles and dubbing. While she recognizes the growing international appetite for Korean cinema, she believes that translating a film’s cultural nuances remains one of the biggest challenges of reaching a global audience. “It’s not an easy task to present a film on this kind of global scale, but I feel truly honored, mainly because Director Na has so many fans around the world."
"Every single film of his is a masterpiece in Korean cinema. It’s a real honor, but I always think about the language barrier. Even though we do our best with translations, language itself is culture. It’s not just about the words. Translating that cultural essence is the main difficulty when releasing a movie globally,” she added.
Ho-yeon, however, believes a film doesn't need to erase its cultural identity to find an audience across borders. “I don’t know the exact common thread among movies that are loved globally, but I can say that ‘Hope’ is very accessible and fun. Even though there are details rooted in the essence of Korean culture, the overarching narrative and the entertaining elements are meant for a global audience. Everyone can react to it. The humor is also very grounded, human, and instinctual. People from any country can relate to it,” she shares.
Having experienced the worldwide phenomenon of “Squid Game,” Ho-yeon understands how a story rooted in a particular society can resonate with viewers unfamiliar with its original context. But rather than trying to define a formula for global success, she believes in the power of an immediate, instinctive connection between a film and its audience.
That philosophy brings her back to the feeling she hopes viewers will take away from “Hope.” “I want them to take away the joy. This movie is really fun and wild, and I hope audiences can just feel it. Don’t overthink it. It’s a movie you have to experience. Just open your heart, and if you feel it, it’ll be one of the best cinematic experiences you’ll have. Just feel it,” she says. Ho-yeon, whose work has traveled from South Korea to audiences worldwide, aims to be part of storytelling that transcends language and cultural differences.
“Hope” is scheduled to release in Indian cinemas on October 23, 2026.
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