Aamir is a very powerful man: Chetan Bhagat

Aamir Khan is a "very powerful person" but the truth has to prevail, says author Chetan Bhagat, asking people to compare for themselves his book 'Five Point Someone' and the film '3 Idiots'.

"I'm just telling people to see the film and read my book. I know Aamir is a very powerful person. But finally the truth has to prevail, no? I'm no great artist. But there has to be fair play," Bhagat told us.

Declaring that the film is based on his bestseller, Bhagat has objected to not being given prominence in the credits. Producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra, director Rajkumar Hirani as well as Aamir Khan have accused him of lying and trying to gain media attention.

"I'm being accused of trying to get mileage. Ten lakh copies of the book have been sold. The book has been read by one crore readers. Wouldn't they know the truth?"

"The makers of '3 Idiots' are busy with their victory tours all over the country. Sorry I spoilt their celebrations. The truth had to be told," he said.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: You must be very upset by the latest proceedings?

A: You're a writer. You should know how it feels to have credit taken away from you. And it's not something only I'm saying. The book is there. The film is there. They've tried to take away from my contribution. My name is at the very end of the credit titles after the junior artists and still photographers. From the time they started making the film, they've been stressing that their product is different. It's like a systematic effort (to underplay my contribution). If you read the book and see the film, you'll see the similarities.

Q: So would you say '3 Idiots' is an adaptation of your novel?

A: '3 Idiots' is a total adaptation of my book. Some things are direct lifts, others indirect adaptations.

Q: Aamir thinks you are trying to take away credit from the film's writer Abhijat Joshi?

A: I heard his comments. But then he says he hasn't read the book. There's no denying Abhijat has done the screenplay. What Abhijat has done with my book can only be known if you've read it. If Aamir is so concerned about Abhijat not getting the publicity, he should let Abhijat talk. I very much respect Aamir. He's the reason I thought the project would have a lot of integrity. I know for a fact he was told not to read my book because they told him it'd affect his understanding of his story. I was told it was a different script.