Calling it a misconception, Aamir Khan has clarified that Sonam Wangchuk did not inspire his iconic character in 3 Idiots, despite years of public speculation
For over 16 years, many moviegoers believed that Phunsukh Wangdu, Aamir Khan‘s iconic character in 3 Idiots, was inspired by education reformer Sonam Wangchuk. Now, Aamir Khan has firmly rejected that claim, calling it a longstanding misconception.
Speaking at a public event, Aamir said neither he nor director Rajkumar Hirani or writer Abhijat Joshi knew Sonam Wangchuk when 3 Idiots was written and filmed. “We didn’t know him at that time,” the actor said, adding that the resemblance drawn over the years was never intentional.
The clarification comes after actor Omi Vaidya, who played the unforgettable ‘Chatur Ramalingam‘, urged public support for Wangchuk during his ongoing hunger strike and referred to him as the inspiration behind Phunsukh Wangdu. Aamir, however, responded with a smile, saying, “Chatur is wrong.”
#india Aamir Khan Denies Sonam Wangchuk Link to ‘3 Idiots’ Amid Activist’s Fast #cjp_पार्टी
In a recent London Indian Film Festival conversation, Aamir Khan dismissed claims that Ladakhi engineer and activist Sonam Wangchuk inspired his iconic Rancho character in the 2009…
— Thepagetoday (@thepagetody) July 17, 2026
The debate over 3 Idiots has persisted for years because Wangchuk’s work in Ladakh and his unconventional approach to education closely mirrored the film’s message of challenging rote learning. Even Wangchuk has previously distanced himself from the comparison, saying he was never consulted during the making of the film and does not consider himself Phunsukh Wangdu.
Aamir’s remarks may finally settle one of Bollywood‘s most enduring myths, even as public admiration for both 3 Idiots and Sonam Wangchuk continues independently.
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