10/09/2026
A sequel to 3 Idiots is officially in development, director Rajkumar Hirani confirmed, more than 17 years after the original film's 2009 release.
The rumors have been circulating for years. Back in early 2023, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Boman Irani, and Jaaved Jaaferi all posted playful hints on social media suggesting the cast was secretly reuniting for something big, sparking speculation that never fully died down. It's now confirmed to be real.
Hirani told ANI the team is still actively writing the script and won't move forward publicly until they're satisfied with the story. "Kahani likhi jaa rahi hai; we are still writing. Once it reaches the right point, then we will talk about it," he said. He also confirmed the original cast will return: "Casting will be the same."
Interestingly, the sequel wasn't originally conceived as a 3 Idiots story at all. "We were writing another story, and then it felt like the story we had written would fit into this second part," Hirani explained.
Aamir Khan has already read an early version of the script and reportedly called it wonderful, though Hirani says it still needs more work before it's ready to go into production. Reports also indicate the story will pick up with the characters years after where the original left off, following Rancho, Farhan, and Raju into a completely different stage of their lives.
Hirani has also shut down rumors of a title change to "4 Idiots" with a new fourth lead being added to the group, confirming the sequel will stay true to the original trio.
The 2009 film became a cultural phenomenon in India, exploring the pressures of the country's education system through humor and friendship, and remains one of Bollywood's most beloved films to this day. It was re-released in theaters on September 4, 2026, over Teachers' Day weekend, timed almost perfectly with this announcement.
