Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has officially debunked the enduring myth that his iconic 3 Idiots character, Phunsukh Wangdu (Rancho), was inspired by Ladakhi innovator and education activist Sonam Wangchuk.
Addressing the audience during a post-screening Q&A session at the London Indian Film Festival (LIFF), Khan clarified that neither he nor the film’s writers were aware of Wangchuk during the movie’s production. However, while setting the record straight, the actor offered his unequivocal moral support to the reformer, who is currently on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, and voiced serious alarm over his worsening physical condition.
“I have heard that people feel 3 Idiots is based on Sonam Wangchuk’s life, but that is not accurate. When the script was being written, we had no information about him, and I didn’t know him personally,” Khan stated. He quickly pivoted to express his concern, adding, “That said, the cause Sonam Wangchuk is fighting for is absolutely right. He is fasting, and given that his health is deteriorating rapidly, many of us feel he should end this protest now.”
Khan also took the opportunity to address a recent viral video posted by his co-star Omi Vaidya, who played the memorable character Chatur Ramalingam. In that clip, Vaidya had publicly endorsed Wangchuk’s protest and reiterated the claim that Rancho was modeled after the Ladakhi engineer, a narrative that intensified social media pressure on Khan to respond. Firmly correcting his fellow actor, Khan remarked, “What Chatur (Omi Vaidya) said in that video is incorrect.”
Emphasizing that Wangchuk’s legacy does not hinge on cinematic parallels, Khan noted that the reformer’s contributions deserve respect purely on their own merits, independent of any connection to 3 Idiots.
Wangchuk’s hunger strike, now surpassing the two-week mark, was launched in response to the massive NEET examination paper leak controversy. The protest seeks stringent systemic educational reforms and accountability to protect the future of India’s student community. Medical updates from the site reveal that the 59-year-old activist’s health has taken a severe hit; he has reportedly lost between 8 to 9 kilograms, while plunging blood pressure and blood sugar levels have deeply worried doctors and supporters.
Concluding his remarks, Aamir Khan joined a growing list of public figures pleading with Wangchuk to prioritize his life and bring his high-stakes fast to an immediate end.
