The actor has finally responded to questions over his silence, expressing concern for Sonam Wangchuk while clarifying the real story behind ‘3 Idiots’.
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After days of online discussions over his silence, Bollywood star Aamir Khan has finally spoken about activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. While addressing the issue, the actor not only shared his concern for Wangchuk’s health but also cleared up a belief that has followed ‘3 Idiots’ for years.
The debate had grown stronger after Aamir’s ‘3 Idiots’ co-star Omi Vaidya, who played the unforgettable Chatur, publicly voiced support for Wangchuk. Many social media users also questioned why Aamir had not commented on the issue earlier.
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Today at @BFI I asked Mr Amir Khan about @Wangchuk66 and his fast. Here is his response: @abhijeet_dipke @CJP_2029 @Cockroachisback @SauravDassss pic.twitter.com/jkeKFssrDX
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— nabanita sircar (@sircarnabanita) July 16, 2026
Speaking during an interaction at the British Film Institute (BFI), Aamir was asked about Wangchuk’s ongoing protest. The question also mentioned the popular belief that the film’s lead character, Phunsukh Wangdu, was inspired by the education reformer and activist.
Aamir firmly rejected that idea. He explained that when ‘3 Idiots’ was being made, neither he nor director Rajkumar Hirani or writer Abhijat Joshi knew Sonam Wangchuk personally.
Calling it a misunderstanding, Aamir said, “No, that’s not true, actually. That is a misconception.”
He added that he had recently watched a video in which Omi Vaidya, referring to his character Chatur, spoke about Wangchuk. Responding to that, Aamir said the claim was incorrect.
According to the actor, “Maybe that’s what Chatur was thinking, but I want to tell you neither did Raju, nor Abhijat, nor I — we didn’t know about Sonam.”
While rejecting the long-standing claim, Aamir made it clear that his comments should not be seen as criticism of Wangchuk or his work.
He praised the activist’s efforts and said Wangchuk deserves respect for what he has achieved, regardless of any connection to ‘3 Idiots’.
Aamir also pointed out that Sonam Wangchuk himself has previously clarified that the famous character was not based on him. He said he simply wanted to correct the facts because the misconception has continued for years.
“Just from the factual point of view, I wanted to clarify,” the actor said.
The conversation later turned to Sonam Wangchuk’s ongoing hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Aamir avoided making political remarks but expressed concern for the activist’s well-being.
He said everyone is worried about Wangchuk’s health and safety and hopes the situation reaches a positive conclusion soon.
“We are all very concerned about his health and his life,” Aamir said. “We hope that it ends well. All of us are hoping that he ends his fast and looks after himself.”
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