bollywood stars Aamir Khan Already reacted to activists Sonam Wangchukwent on a hunger strike and expressed concerns for his health and well-being.The actor, who is attending the London Indian Film Festival at the British Film Institute in London, sat down for a candid chat in which he spoke about his films and journey in the Bollywood industry. During a Q&A with the audience, the actor was asked about the long-held belief that his iconic “3 Idiots” character Phunsukh Wangdu was based on the Ladakhi innovator Wangchuk.
Aamir Khan denies ‘3 Idiots’ is based on Sonam Wangchuk
Journalist Nabanita Sircar shared a video of Aamir’s interaction onIn the clip, Aamir was asked about the widespread belief that his film characters were inspired by Sonam Wangchuk. Reacting to the claim, the actor said: “No! Actually, that’s not true. That’s a misunderstanding.”He went on to explain, “I didn’t know Mr. Sonam when we were making the movie 3 Idiots. I know I had seen the video of Chatur, just recently, and he said, ‘No, he’s wrong.’ Maybe that’s what Chatur had in mind, but I want to tell you, neither director Rajkumar Hiraniwriter Abhijat Joshi and I…neither of us knew Mr. Sonam. However, whatever Mr. Sonam did was a good thing. He doesn’t have to be based on a character from 3 Idiots for us to respect him. “
Aamir Khan expresses concern over Sonam Wangchuck’s health
When asked if he had clarified this before, Aamir reiterated: “Just from a factual point of view… In fact, Mr. Sonam had said this. He also said that the character was not based on him.”The actor was also asked about Wangchuck’s hunger strike, which is now on its 19th day. Aamir expressed concern, saying: “Well, I think all of us are concerned about his health and his life. We hope everything goes well and all of us hope he ends his fast. “
Did Sonam Wangchuk inspire Phunsukh Wangdu?
For years, many believed that Khan’s character Phunsukh Wangdu in Rajkumar Hirani’s 2009 blockbuster 3 Idiots was based on Sonam Wangchuk, who has gained global recognition for his work in education and sustainable innovation.The controversy resurfaced recently after actor Omi Vaidya, who played the memorable character Chatur Ramalingam in the film, expressed support for Wangchuk and mentioned the widespread belief that the character in the film was based on the activist.
Sonam Wangchuk denies involvement with Phunsukh Wangdu
However, Wangchuck also clarified that the character was not based on his life. Talking about the frequent comparisons that came up in “Kaun Banega Crorepati”, Wangchuk said, “If you say inspiration, then I will not deny it. Many people say that the film is based on me, but I don’t agree with that. The correct thing to say is that it may have been influenced. At the same time, I don’t want people in this country to accept something just because it is related to the film. So even though this movie was influenced by me, I’m not very proud of it. If it wasn’t for my inspiration, I wouldn’t regret it. “
“3 Idiots: Part 2” is in production
Meanwhile, Aamir Khan and director Rajkumar Hirani are currently busy filming the sequel, with principal photography expected to begin by the end of 2026, according to latest reports.
