Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has dismissed the long-standing belief that his iconic character Phunsukh Wangdu in the 2009 film 3 Idiots was inspired by education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. Speaking during the London Indian Film Festival, Aamir described the claim as a “misconception” and explained that neither he nor the film’s creators were aware of Sonam Wangchuk while the movie was being developed. He emphasized that director Rajkumar Hirani and writer Abhijat Joshi did not base the character on Wangchuk in any way.

Aamir said he recently watched a video in which actor Omi Vaidya, who played Chatur in the film, also clarified the misunderstanding. According to Aamir, neither he, Rajkumar Hirani, nor Abhijat Joshi knew Sonam Wangchuk during the making of 3 Idiots. He added that Sonam himself has previously stated that the character was not based on him. Aamir stressed that respecting Sonam Wangchuk’s work does not depend on any connection with the film, as his contributions to education and social causes deserve recognition on their own.

When asked about Sonam Wangchuk’s ongoing hunger strike, Aamir expressed concern for his health and hoped that the situation would end peacefully. He said everyone is worried about Sonam’s well-being and wishes that he ends his fast and takes care of his health. Released in 2009, 3 Idiots remains one of Bollywood’s most successful films, starring Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani, Mona Singh, and Omi Vaidya, while highlighting the pressures and shortcomings of India’s education system.