An old video of activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk has resurfaced online after actor Aamir Khan recently stated that neither he nor the makers of 3 Idiots knew Wangchuk when the film was made. The 2009 blockbuster featured Aamir as Phunsukh Wangdu, a character widely believed by many to have drawn inspiration from Wangchuk.
The viral clip is from the 2008 CNN-IBN Real Heroes Awards, where Wangchuk was recognised for his contributions to education in Ladakh. During the event, Wangchuk recalled meeting Aamir Khan in 2008 and revealed that the two had discussed the possibility of making a film centred on the India-Pakistan border regions, including Ladakh, Baltistan and the Siachen conflict.
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Wangchuk also praised Aamir’s performance in the 2007 film Taare Zameen Par, saying he appreciated the actor’s efforts in highlighting the issue of children’s learning disabilities.
The resurfaced video gained attention after Aamir Khan addressed the long-standing speculation surrounding Phunsukh Wangdu during an event at the British Film Institute in England. The actor described the belief that the character was based on Wangchuk as a misconception.
Aamir said that neither director Rajkumar Hirani nor writer Abhijat Joshi knew Wangchuk during the making of 3 Idiots. He added that while the activist’s work deserves admiration, it should not be linked to the film’s fictional character.
The actor also expressed concern for Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for nearly three weeks. Aamir wished for the activist’s health and hoped that the protest would conclude peacefully.
The resurfaced video has reignited online discussions about the origins of the iconic character and the long-standing public perception linking Phunsukh Wangdu to Sonam Wangchuk.
