New Delhi: Engineer and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk has responded to Aamir Khan's statement that he was unaware of him while working on the 2009 blockbuster 3 Idiots, adding a humorous twist to the ongoing discussion.
Wangchuk, who has often been linked with the character of Rancho played by Aamir Khan in the film, joked that the actor's famous Ghajini role may have affected his memory.
Speaking on Prakhar Gupta's podcast, Wangchuk said that several videos showed Aamir watching his speeches while dressed as Ghajini, suggesting that the actor might have experienced “short-term memory loss” like his character from the film. “We have heard that he has gone into his character a lot, so perhaps he has gone into Ghajini so much.…” Wangchuk said.
Wangchuk Clarifies His Link With '3 Idiots'
While discussing the connection between him and the popular film, Wangchuk clarified that he does not consider 3 Idiots to be a biography or a direct portrayal of his life.
He said the connection was more about inspiration and ideas that may have influenced the film's creators. According to Wangchuk, he had multiple detailed conversations with Aamir Khan where they exchanged thoughts, and some ideas may have indirectly found their way into the movie.
What Did Aamir Khan Say?
Aamir Khan had recently denied that the character of Rancho in 3 Idiots was based on Sonam Wangchuk.
During an interaction at the British Film Institute (BFI), the actor said that neither he, director Rajkumar Hirani nor writer Abhijat Joshi knew about Wangchuk while making the film. Aamir said that Wangchuk's work was admirable but maintained that the character was not inspired by him.
Why The Debate Continues
The discussion has reignited interest in the similarities between Sonam Wangchuk's educational philosophy and the character of Rancho from 3 Idiots.
While Wangchuk has highlighted the similarities in ideas, Aamir Khan has maintained that the film's character was created independently. The exchange between the two has now turned into a mix of humour, cinema and a debate over inspiration behind one of Bollywood's most loved films.