2009 · Film
3 Idiots
Rajkumar Hirani's comedy-drama about three engineering students whose friendship is tested by a marks-obsessed college system and its rigid director.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, we found no Hindi version of 3 Idiots streaming in India. Netflix India lists it as not available. Vinod Chopra Films' library, which includes 3 Idiots, has been off streaming services since early 2026, and in July 2026 the studio announced a rights deal with NH Studioz to bring the films back, according to ANI.
The story
Ten years after graduating from the Imperial College of Engineering, Farhan Qureshi and Raju Rastogi are reunited with their old rival Chatur, and the three set off to find Rancho, the friend who disappeared after college. On the road, they remember their student years: Rancho's arrival as a gifted student who questions rote learning, his running battles with the strict director Viru Sahastrabuddhe, known as 'Virus', his friendship with Virus's daughter Pia, and the pressure of marks, placements and parents' expectations.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
Students, parents and anyone who likes big-hearted comedy with a message about education will find plenty here, though at 171 minutes it is a long watch. It deals with academic pressure and includes student suicides, a suicide attempt and ragging, so younger children may need an adult alongside.
funnyemotionalthought-provoking
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
3 Idiots is loosely adapted from Chetan Bhagat's novel Five Point Someone. Rajkumar Hirani co-wrote the screenplay with Abhijat Joshi and also edited the film, and Vidhu Vinod Chopra produced it under Vinod Chopra Films. It opened in cinemas on 25 December 2009 and had its television premiere on Sony Max on 25 July 2010.
Wikipedia puts its worldwide gross at about ₹460 crore, which made it the highest-grossing Indian film until Dhoom 3 (2013). It also found large audiences in China and Japan. It won six Filmfare Awards, including Best Film and Best Director, and three National Film Awards, including Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Shankar remade it in Tamil as Nanban (2012), and a Mexican remake, 3 Idiotas, followed in 2017. In July 2026 Vinod Chopra Films gave NH Studioz worldwide rights to its library; ANI reported that the films had not been on any platform since early 2026. In April 2026 Aamir Khan said Hirani was working on a sequel.
The facts
- Language
- Hindi
- Hindi
- Hindi original
- Genre
- Coming-of-age comedy-drama, Campus satire
- Runtime
- 171 min
- Director
- Rajkumar Hirani
- Cast
- Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch 3 Idiots in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, we found no Hindi version of 3 Idiots streaming in India. Netflix India lists it as not available. Vinod Chopra Films' library, which includes 3 Idiots, has been off streaming services since early 2026, and in July 2026 the studio announced a rights deal with NH Studioz to bring the films back, according to ANI.
- Is 3 Idiots in Hindi?
- Yes. 3 Idiots is a Hindi-language film.
- How long is 3 Idiots?
- 3 Idiots runs for 2 hours 51 minutes (171 minutes).