In a recent podcast with Prakhar Gupta, Sonam Wangchuk addressed Aamir Khan’s claim that he did not know him before the making of 3 Idiots. In July, Aamir denied knowing the climate activist during the film’s production and rejected claims that the movie was based on Wangchuk. However, hours later, a 2008 video of Aamir and Wangchuk meeting surfaced online. Responding to the controversy, Sonam appeared to take a sly dig at the actor.
Sonam Wangchuk Mocks Aamir Khan
Sonam responded to Aamir’s claim that they had “never met,” saying, “When he said that we hadn’t even met, some videos later emerged in which he was watching one of my speeches while dressed in the Ghajini outfit. Shayad woh Ghajini outfit mein the toh short-term memory loss huwa hoga, 15 min aad bhul gaye honge. Toh, mai hairaan nahi hoon. Warna bahot detail mein mile the hum (Perhaps he was in the Ghajini outfit, so he had some short-term memory loss and forgot for 15 minutes or so. So, I’m not surprised. Otherwise, we had met and discussed things in great detail).”
Recalling Aamir’s statement, Sonam remarked: “We’ve heard that he gets so deeply into his characters. So perhaps he got so immersed in Ghajini that when he came to the award function where I was receiving an award, he may have forgotten about me too. Otherwise, we met at length and discussed a lot of ideas. And I wouldn’t say that he based it on or made a biography of… this is what you call inspiration. He had a script, so he must have added it. Perhaps his co-writers or directors didn’t realise that he had added an idea he had picked up somewhere, after meeting someone or having a conversation. It doesn’t make any difference to me. Let it go.”
Aamir Khan Breaks Silence On Sonam Wangchuk And 3 Idiots
During an interaction at the British Film Institute, Aamir Khan was asked about activist Sonam Wangchuk and his hunger strike, but denied knowing him while making 3 Idiots. He stated, “No, that’s not true, actually. That is a misconception. I didn’t know about Mr Sonam Wangchuk at that time when we were doing the film. I know that; I saw a video of Chatur. Just recently, he said that… No, he’s wrong. Maybe that’s what Chatur was thinking, but I want to tell you neither Raju, nor Abhijat (one of the two writers), nor I, we didn’t know about Sonam. However, what Mr Sonam is doing is good work anyway. He doesn’t need to be based on the character of 3 Idiots for us to respect him and the work he’s done.”
Was 3 Idiots’ Phunsukh Wangdu Character Inspired by Sonam Wangchuk?
Wangchuk clarified that he would not claim 3 Idiots was based on his life or biography. Instead, he suggested that his meeting with Aamir may have influenced or inspired some ideas and elements later incorporated into the film. Wangchuk suggested Aamir may have shared ideas from their interaction with his team, later incorporating or modifying them for the film.
“He must have given it like this, so others who are his co-writers or directors must not have understood that he has given his today's idea, he has come from somewhere, got it, got it by talking. It doesn't make any difference to me. Know it,” Wangchuk said.
About 3 Idiots movie
Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots, released in 2009, remains among Bollywood’s most beloved coming-of-age films. The movie features Aamir Khan, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Boman Irani in pivotal roles. Set in an engineering college, the film follows three friends, Rancho (Aamir), Farhan (Madhavan) and Raju (Sharman), as they face academic pressure, family expectations and career challenges. Rancho’s unconventional outlook questions the education system’s obsession with marks and rankings, while Farhan and Raju confront their fears, dreams and ambitions.
The film earned critical acclaim and commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing Indian films of its era.