The long-running debate around the inspiration behind Aamir Khan’s iconic character Phunsukh Wangdu in 3 Idiots has resurfaced once again. Aamir Khan recently said that he did not know activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk while making the 2009 film, calling the belief that the character was based on Wangchuk a “misconception”. However, an old video of Wangchuk from 2008 has now gone viral, where he recalls meeting Aamir Khan before the film’s release.
So, did Aamir Khan really not know Sonam Wangchuk before 3 Idiots? Let’s find out.
‘I Didn’t Know Mr Sonam’: Aamir Khan
The discussion began after Aamir Khan addressed the long-standing belief that his character Phunsukh Wangdu was inspired by Sonam Wangchuk. Speaking at a British Film Institute event in England, Aamir said that neither he nor the makers of the film knew about Wangchuk while working on 3 Idiots.
“No, no. That is a misconception. I didn’t know about Mr Sonam at that time when we were doing the film, 3 Idiots. I know I saw a video of Chatur (Omi Vaidya) recently. He is wrong. Maybe that’s what Chatur thinking. Neither Raju nor Abhijat Joshi, who were the two writers, nor I – we didn’t know about Mr Sonam,” Aamir said.
He also added that Wangchuk’s work deserves appreciation regardless of any connection with the film. “However, what Mr Sonam is doing is good in any case. He doesn’t have to be based on the character of 3 Idiots for us to respect him,” he said.
Aamir also expressed concern over Wangchuk’s health as the activist continued his hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. “Mr Sonam has also said before that the character is not about him. 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,” he added.
What Is The Old 2008 Video About?
Soon after Aamir’s comments, an old video of Sonam Wangchuk from a 2008 CNN-IBN event started circulating online. The video is from the time Wangchuk received the Real Heroes Award for his contribution to education in Ladakh.
In the clip, Wangchuk confirms that he had met Aamir Khan in 2008. He also recalls discussing ideas with the actor, including a possible film based around the India-Pakistan conflict in the border regions of Ladakh and Baltistan, along with the Siachen dispute.
Wangchuk also spoke about appreciating Aamir’s performance in the 2007 film Taare Zameen Par, which highlighted children’s learning difficulties.
What Sonam Wangchuk Said About His 3 Idiots Connection?
While many fans believe Aamir Khan’s character Rancho’s alter ego Phunsukh Wangdu was based on Wangchuk, the activist has repeatedly clarified that he does not consider the character to be directly based on him.
During an appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati, Wangchuk told Amitabh Bachchan that the film may have been influenced by his work but was not a direct portrayal of his life. “If you say inspired, then I won’t deny it. A lot of people say the film is based on me, but I don’t agree with that. The right word is that it may have been inspired or influenced,” he said.
He added, “At the same time, I don’t want people in this country to accept something simply because it is associated with a film. So even if the film is influenced by me, I am not very proud of it. And if it is not inspired by me, I don’t regret it either.”
The Real Story Behind Phunsukh Wangdu
In another conversation with Josh Talks, Wangchuk recalled how he learned about 3 Idiots after its release. He said he started receiving messages from friends and journalists congratulating him for a film that was supposedly based on his work. He later found out that the film had been shot at a school associated with him.
Wangchuk claimed that the filmmakers had visited the school in 2008 but had not revealed details about the project. He also said that he considered writing to the makers after the film’s release but decided against it due to the controversy between author Chetan Bhagat and the filmmakers over the film’s credits.
