Ali Fazal Reveals Emotional Impact of His Role in 3 Idiots.

Actor Ali Fazal recently opened up about the emotional toll his role in the 2009 film 3 Idiots had on him. In a candid interview, Fazal shared that portraying Joy Lobo—a student struggling with academic pressure—led him to experience depression early in his career.

Recalling a pivotal moment, Fazal said, “A news channel called me after the film’s release and asked, ‘How do you feel knowing students are harming themselves, just like your character?’ I was crushed. I was still in my second year of college, and the question hit me hard.” Fazal explained that he felt unprepared for the impact his character had on viewers, leading to a period of mental distress.

The actor also shared that he reached out to Rajkumar Hirani, the film’s director, for support. “Raju Sir and others were very kind. They told me not to take it personally and asked the media to speak to the producers instead.” Fazal expressed that playing a small role made it difficult for him to communicate the full intent behind his character’s journey, which only deepened his frustration.

Despite the emotional challenge, Fazal credited the experience as a learning curve in his career. He fondly recalled how he bagged the role after being spotted in a play in Mumbai and how recording “Give Me Some Sunshine” became a memorable part of the process.

3 Idiots also starred Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, and Kareena Kapoor in key roles.