Bollywood star Aamir Khan has reacted to the activist Sonam Wangchukongoing hunger strike and expressed concern for his health and well-being.The actor, who was attending the London India Film Festival at the British Film Institute in London, sat down for a candid chat, where he talked about his films and his journey in the Bollywood industry. During a question-and-answer session with the audience, the actor was asked about the long-held belief that his ‘3 Idiots’ iconic character Phunsukh Wangdu was based on the innovative Wangchuk of Ladakh.
Aamir Khan DENIES that ‘3 Idiots’ was based on Sonam Wangchuk
A video of Aamir’s interaction at X was shared by journalist Nabanita Sircar, who wrote, “Today at @BFI I asked Mr. Amir Khan about @Wangchuk66 and his fast. Here’s his answer.”In the clip, Aamir was asked about the widespread perception that his film character was inspired by Sonam Wangchuk. In response to the claim, the actor said, “No! That’s not true, actually. That’s the wrong idea.”He went on to explain, “I didn’t know about Mr. Sonam at that time when we were doing the movie ‘3 Idiots’. I know I saw a video of Chatur, recently, he said ‘No, he’s wrong’. Maybe that’s what Chatur was thinking, but I want to tell you that neither the two directors. Rajkumar Hiraniwho writer abhijat joshi, that i… we didn’t know about mr. we sound However, what Mr. Sonam is a good job in any case. It doesn’t have to be based on the ‘3 Idiots’ character because we respect it.”
Aamir Khan expresses concern over Sonam Wangchuk’s health
When asked if this had been cleared earlier, Aamir reiterated, “Just from a factual point of view… In fact, Sonam sir had said that. He also said that the character is not based on him.”The actor was also asked about Wangchuk’s hunger strike, which has now reached its 19th day. Expressing concern, Aamir said, “Well, I think we are all worried about his health and his life. We hope it ends well and we all 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 inspired by Sonam Wangchuk, whose work in education and sustainable innovation has earned her worldwide recognition.The debate resurfaced recently after actor Omi Vaidya, who played the memorable character Chatur Ramalingam in the film, expressed his support for Wangchuk and referred to the popular belief that the character in the film was based on the activist.
Sonam Wangchuk denies hookup with Phunsukh Wangdu
However, Wangchuk had also clarified that the character is not a big screen adaptation of his life. Speaking about the frequent comparison during an appearance on ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, Wangchuk had said, “If you say inspired, I won’t deny it. Many people say that the film is based on me, but I don’t agree with that. The correct word is that it may have been influenced in a minor way. At the same time, I don’t want a film to be associated with a film simply in this country. So even if the movie is influenced by me, I’m not really proud of it. And if it’s not inspired by me, I don’t regret it either.”
‘3 Idiots: Part 2’ in progress
Meanwhile, according to the latest reports, Aamir Khan and director Rajkumar Hirani are currently busy working on the sequel, with principal photography slated to begin in late 2026.