Aamir Khan says his 3 Idiots role not based on Wangchuk amid his hunger strike

Actor Aamir Khan, at an event on Thursday, said that his character Phunsukh Wangdu in the 2009 film, 3 Idiots, was not based on activist Sonam Wangchuk, calling it a misconception that, he added, Wangchuk himself has clarified in the past. Khan made the remarks while reacting for the first time to Wangchuk’s ongoing hunger strike at Jantar Mantar against irregularities in NEET exam.

At the same time, Khan said the focus should be on Wangchuk’s health, as the activist’s indefinite fast entered its 20th day on Friday. He said Wangchuk’s work did not need any connection with 3 Idiots for people to respect him.

Responding to a question at a British Film Institute event, held in England, Khan clarified, “That is a misconception. I know I saw a video of Chatur (Omi Vaidya) recently. He is wrong. Neither director Rajkumar Hirani, nor writer Abhijat Joshi knew Wangchuk while making the film.”