Aamir Khan breaks silence on Sonam Wangchuk and the '3 Idiots' debate
A long-standing belief linking ‘3 Idiots’ to activist Sonam Wangchuk has once again come under discussion after Aamir Khan addressed the topic publicly. Speaking at an event hosted by the British Film Institute (BFI), the actor clarified that the film's central character was never based on Wangchuk and also shared his concern over the activist's ongoing hunger strike.
The discussion comes days after Aamir faced criticism online for remaining silent on Wangchuk's protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The conversation gained further attention after his ‘3 Idiots’ co-star Omi Vaidya publicly extended support to Wangchuk.
During the interaction, Aamir was asked about the widely held belief that Phunsukh Wangdu, the character he played in ‘3 Idiots’, was inspired by Sonam Wangchuk. Rejecting the claim, the actor said neither he, director Rajkumar Hirani nor writer Abhijat Joshi knew Wangchuk while the film was being made.
Aamir said the association between the character and Wangchuk was a misconception. He added that Wangchuk himself had clarified earlier that the film's protagonist was not based on him. The actor said he only wanted to correct the record from a factual standpoint and stressed that Wangchuk's work deserved appreciation regardless of any connection to the film.
Asked about Wangchuk's ongoing hunger strike, Aamir said everyone was concerned about his health and hoped the situation would end positively. He also expressed hope that Wangchuk would end his fast and take care of himself.
Watch the video here-
The actor's remarks quickly drew mixed reactions online. Among those responding was Saurav Das, Chief Spokesperson of the Cockroach Janta Party, who described Aamir's reply as "disappointing" while thanking the interviewer for raising the question.
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Several public figures have already voiced support for Sonam Wangchuk during his protest, including Zeenat Aman, Soni Razdan, Omi Vaidya, Imran Khan, Swara Bhasker, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sonakshi Sinha and Fatima Sana Shaikh. Many have also expressed concern over his health and called for a resolution to the ongoing situation.