R Madhavan On Playing College Students In 3 Idiots At 40: 'We Were Looking Younger Than The Actual Students'

Actor R Madhavan recently opened up about his memorable role as a college student in '3 Idiots', a film that continues to resonate with audiences years after its release.

In a chat with News18, Madhavan shared his initial discomfort at portraying a much younger character in the now-iconic Rajkumar Hirani film.

Madhavan on playing college student in 3 Idiots

“I was sh**ting bricks when I was doing 3 Idiots as I was 40 years old at that time. Oh my god! It’s a miracle that we passed off as college students,” the actor admitted, recalling his anxiety during the film’s production.

The 2009 blockbuster starred Madhavan alongside Aamir Khan and Sharman Joshi as engineering students navigating the rigid Indian education system. While all three were well beyond college age—Aamir was 44, Madhavan 39, and Sharman 30—their convincing performances won hearts across the board.

"We looked younger than students"

Looking back, Madhavan shared an amusing moment from the shoot that helped ease his worries. “But the funny part was when we went to the college and got into our attires, we were looking younger than the actual students there. That’s what gave us the confidence. Thankfully, Aamir, Sharman and I weren’t bald. Guys studying in that college were bald or had grey hair. We had to ask them if they’re students or professors. When they said that they’re students, we were like, ‘Achchi baat hai, bhai! Now we feel much younger.’”

Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, '3 Idiots' not only won critical acclaim but also became the first Hindi film to cross the ₹400 crore mark at the global box office. The film, which also featured Kareena Kapoor and Boman Irani, became a cultural phenomenon and continues to be quoted and referenced more than a decade later.

What’s next for Madhavan?

Post-Kesari: Chapter 2, Madhavan is teaming up once again with Karan Johar for the Netflix film Aap Jaisa Koi, in which he plays a 48-year-old Sanskrit professor opposite Fatima Sana Shaikh, who essays the role of a 28-year-old French teacher. The romantic drama is directed by Vivek Soni, though a release date is yet to be announced.

He’s also part of De De Pyaar De 2, the sequel to the 2019 hit starring Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preet Singh. Directed by Anshul Sharma, the film is slated for a theatrical release on November 14.

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