Actor Aamir Khan has dismissed the long-standing belief that his iconic character Rancho from 3 Idiots was inspired by engineer and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk. Speaking at the London Indian Film Festival, Aamir clarified that neither he nor the film’s writers knew Wangchuk when the 2009 blockbuster was being made.
His remarks come amid Sonam Wangchuk’s ongoing indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, which has garnered widespread support from public figures across the country.
Aamir Khan Says Rancho Was Not Based on Sonam Wangchuk
During an interactive session at the British Film Institute (BFI) Southbank on July 16, a member of the audience referred to the popular perception that 3 Idiots was inspired by Sonam Wangchuk. Aamir immediately corrected the claim.
“No, that’s not true. That is a misconception. I didn’t know about Mr Sonam at the time when we were making 3 Idiots,” he said.
The actor further explained that the film’s writers, Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi, were also unaware of Wangchuk during the writing process.
‘Chatur Was Wrong,’ Jokes Aamir Khan
Aamir also addressed actor Omi Vaidya‘s recent video supporting Sonam Wangchuk. Reprising his memorable character Chatur Ramalingam, Omi had appealed by saying, “I don’t want Phunsukh Wangdu to die.”
Responding humorously, Aamir said, “Chatur was wrong.”
He added that respecting Sonam Wangchuk’s work does not depend on whether 3 Idiots was inspired by him.
“What Mr Sonam is doing doesn’t have to be based on the character of 3 Idiots for us to respect him. Mr Sonam himself has clarified that the character is not based on him,” Aamir stated.
Aamir Khan Expresses Concern Over Sonam Wangchuk’s Health
Commenting on Wangchuk’s hunger strike, Aamir said he was concerned about the activist’s well-being and hoped he would end his fast soon.
“I think all of us are very concerned for his health and life. We hope that he ends his fast,” the actor said.
What Sonam Wangchuk Had Earlier Revealed
Sonam Wangchuk has previously spoken about the comparisons between himself and Rancho, stating that he was never consulted by the filmmakers despite the similarities many viewers noticed.
Speaking at a Josh Talks event, Wangchuk recalled meeting Aamir Khan at a CNN-IBN awards ceremony in 2008, where he shared ideas related to education reform and peace-building initiatives in Siachen. According to Wangchuk, Aamir listened attentively and watched an audio-visual presentation showcasing his work.
A year later, after the release of 3 Idiots, Wangchuk said people began congratulating him, believing the film was based on his life.
Why Sonam Wangchuk Didn’t Raise the Issue Earlier
Wangchuk revealed that he was surprised when people informed him that the film had showcased his educational philosophy and resembled his work in Ladakh. Upon contacting his school, he learned that a film crew had visited the area but eventually shot elsewhere after permission-related issues.
He chose not to publicly question the filmmakers at the time, stating that he did not want people to assume he was seeking financial compensation. The controversy surrounding story credit disputes between the filmmakers and author Chetan Bhagat also influenced his decision to remain silent.
Later, after the legal period for seeking compensation had passed, Wangchuk wrote to the makers of the film explaining his prior interaction with Aamir Khan. According to him, he never received a response and moved on with his work.
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Why Is Sonam Wangchuk on Hunger Strike?
Sonam Wangchuk is currently observing an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. His protest is centred around demands for accountability regarding alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, education reforms, and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The hunger strike has received support from actors, filmmakers, digital creators and several public figures, many of whom have urged the government to engage in dialogue while also appealing to Wangchuk to prioritise his health.
