I was the inspiration behind Aamir's role in '3 Idiots': Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra says the character of an eternally optimistic genius (Rancho), played by Aamir Khan in '3 Idiots', was inspired by his life.

"The character of Rancho (Ranchoddas Shamaldas Chanchad) in the movie is (based on) me. It is inspired from my life," Chopra said while interacting with the delegates in the NFDC's Film Bazaar, where he shared interesting anecdotes of his life.

Chopra is a product of Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India. "I never attended classes in the Film Institute. I failed in the final examination. So, when I was nominated for Oscars, the institute called me as a guest and gave me my passing certificate as an honour," said the 62-year-old filmmaker, who produced the 'Munnabhai' series.

According to Chopra, his family wanted him to become a doctor, but he pursued his dream of filmmaking. The Bollywood producer-director purposely wrote the medical entrance exam paper incomplete, so that he could fail in it. Chopra said it would have been difficult to convince his father about his desire to become a filmmaker.

"When I was nominated for Oscar, I confessed to my dad about the truth. I thought since I am nominated for the Oscars my father would say well done. But he looked at me and said 'you fooled me' and gave me a slap with love and affection," said the filmmaker, whose short film 'An Encounter with Faces' nominated at the Oscars in 1979.

Similarly, after watching '3 Idiots', his daughter from previous marriage left media studies and followed her dream of becoming a dancer.

Chopra said he wants to make the 2009 blockbuster in Chinese, France and English as the film continues to change many lives.