Rajkumar Hirani says he was confronted by Aamir Khan’s assistant over a particular scene in ‘3 Idiots’: ‘Aapne hum gareebo ka mazak udaya hai’ | Hindi Movie News

Rajkumar Hirani’s ‘3 Idiots‘ was one of the most celebrated films in Bollywood, but one particular scene sparked criticism for its portrayal of poverty, with many viewers believing it made light of the struggles faced by underprivileged communities. The criticism was initially raised by an assistant from Aamir Khan’s team, who confronted the filmmaker about the issue, prompting him to reconsider the scene’s impact.
During a recent conversation on the Game Changers YouTube podcast, Hirani recalled the moment he was challenged on the portrayal. “After the film was released, Aamir Khan’s team also watched it, including a boy (assistant) who works with him, named Sachin. Then, Sachin came to me and said, ‘Sir, I liked the film, but I did not like one thing. Aapne hum gareebo ka mazak udaya hai’ (You have made fun of us poor people),” he shared.

The scene in question revolves around Raju Rastogi’s (played by Sharman Joshi) home, depicted in black and white to emphasise the family’s struggles. However, certain elements—including exaggerated portrayals of unhygienic conditions—were perceived as insensitive, leading to accusations that the film was making a spectacle of poverty.
Rajkumar acknowledged that he had not initially realised the potential misinterpretation of the scene. He explained that his intention was to reference old black-and-white films that often depicted struggling families with familiar tropes like an ailing father, an unmarried sister, and a mother fighting to make ends meet. The scene was crafted with that cinematic tradition in mind, but he later understood that it could be perceived differently and might unintentionally offend or hurt viewers.

He further reflected on the importance of being mindful when portraying sensitive subjects in cinema. He recognised that comedy often stems from the misfortunes of others, making it crucial for filmmakers to be conscious of how their work might be perceived. While acknowledging the need for sensitivity, he also emphasised that audiences should approach such portrayals with a sense of sporting spirit.