Aamir Khan Clarifies ‘3 Idiots’ Character Was Not Inspired by Sonam Wangchuk: “That Is a Misconception”
Actor Aamir Khan has officially debunked the long-standing belief that his iconic character, Phunsukh Wangdu, from the blockbuster film 3 Idiots (2009) was based on Ladakhi engineer and innovator Sonam Wangchuk.
Speaking during a question-and-answer session at the British Film Institute (BFI) in London on July 16, 2026, Aamir addressed the rumor directly, clarifying that the creative team had absolutely no knowledge of Wangchuk when the movie was being developed.
Setting the Record Straight
Aamir firmly categorized the connection as a factual error, even pointing out a recent comment by a co-star that may have re-fueled the rumor:
“No, that is not true actually. That is a misconception. I didn’t know about Mr. Sonam at that time when we were doing the film, 3 Idiots. I saw a video of Chatur [Omi Vaidya] just recently, and he said that. But he is wrong. Maybe that is what Chatur was thinking, but I want to tell you that neither Raju [director Rajkumar Hirani] nor Abhijat [writer Abhijat Joshi], who are the two writers, we didn’t know about Mr. Sonam.”
Despite clarifying the lack of connection, Aamir was quick to praise Wangchuk’s real-world contributions:
“However, what Mr. Sonam is doing is good work in any case. He doesn’t have to be based on a character of 3 Idiots for us to respect him and the work that he does. I wanted to share this from a factual point of view.”
Today at @BFI I asked Mr Amir Khan about @Wangchuk66 and his fast. Here is his response: @abhijeet_dipke @CJP_2029 @Cockroachisback @SauravDassss pic.twitter.com/jkeKFssrDX
— nabanita sircar (@sircarnabanita) July 16, 2026
Expressing Concern for Wangchuk’s Health
During the BFI interaction, the conversation shifted to current events, specifically Sonam Wangchuk’s ongoing political protest. The activist has been staging an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding statehood for Ladakh and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.
With reports indicating that the activist’s health has deteriorated significantly during the fast, Aamir voiced his deep concern:
“All of us are very concerned for his health and his life. We hope it ends well. All of us are hoping that he ends his fast.”
The activist’s demonstration continues to draw widespread attention from the public, political figures, and now, prominent voices within the film industry.
