Aamir Khan on Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike: 'Phunsukh Wangdu in 3 Idiots wasn't based on him,' extends solidarity
Aamir Khan said what Sonam Wangchuk has been doing is good work and does not have to be based on a character from ‘3 Idiots’ for us to respect him and the work that he does.
Aamir Khan said what Sonam Wangchuk has been doing is good work and does not have to be based on a character from ‘3 Idiots’ for us to respect him and the work that he does.
Actor Aamir Khan has given his first reaction to activist Sonam Wangchuk’s ongoing hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, insisting the character Phunsukh Wangdu in the 2009 blockbuster 3 Idiots was not based on the Ladakh-based activist. Calling it a “misconception,” Khan said that Wangchuk himself has repeatedly clarified that the character was not based on him.
Khan, however, expressed concern over Wangchuk's deteriorating health, as his hunger strike entered its 20th day today.
Aamir Khan dismisses 3 Idiots misconception
“That is a misconception. I know I saw a video of Chatur (Omi Viadya) recently. He is wrong. Neither director Rajkumar Hirani nor writer Abhijat Joshi knew Wangchuk while making the film,” Khan said in response to a question at a British Film Institute (BFI) event in London on 16 July.
For years, many people have believed that Wangchuk inspired Aamir Khan’s character Phunsukh Wangdu in 3 Idiots.
The debate resurfaced after US-based Omi Vaidya, who played Chatur in the film, recently extended support for Wangchuk in a social media video. Vaidya said Phunsukh Wangdu was based on Wangchuk and shared pictures with the activist.
Khan, however, reiterated that climate scientist Wangchuk had already clarified the issue himself.
“Mr Sonam has also said before that the character is not about him,” said Khan.
Sonam Wangchu has clarified link with Phunsukh Wangdu
Wangchuk has repeatedly said that while 3 Idiots may have drawn inspiration from aspects of his work, the character is not based on his life.
“If you say inspired, then I won’t deny it. A lot of people say the film is based on me, but I don’t agree with that. The right word is that it may have been inspired or influenced. At the same time, I don’t want people in this country to accept something simply because it is associated with a film. So even if the film is influenced by me, I am not very proud of it. And if it is not inspired by me, I don’t regret it either,” Wancghuk said during his appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati.
“They secretly came to my school to shoot the film,” he once claimed, according to The Indian Express.
In a separate interview with Josh Talks, Wangchuk also opened up about how people often ask him if he is the real-life Phunsukh Wangdu.
“I am troubled because people constantly ask me, ‘Is your school the one shown in 3 Idiots? Are you Phunsukh Wangdu?’ I want to clarify: No, I am not Phunsukh Wangdu. I am Sonam Wangchuk. I don’t work in films; I work in real life,” he said.
Wangchuk also recalled meeting Aamir Khan in Mumbai in 2008 while receiving a CNN-IBN award for his educational work in Ladakh. According to Wangchuk, he told the actor about his idea for a film centred on the Siachen conflict in Ladakh.
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike day 20
Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on 28 June, demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak. Despite his deteriorating health, he has continued the fast. Several Opposition leaders and Bollywood celebrities have pleaded with him to end his fast.
As the protest entered its 20th day on Friday, many Opposition leaders have shown solidarity with Wangchuk and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest.
The CJP and Wangchuk's supporters have condemned the government's silence on the protest and Wangchuk's hunger strike.
"The man who chose to put his own life on the line to seek justice for students who died by suicide has received nothing but silence from the govt. The govt is not just unaccountable; it is also cruel," CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke posted on X.
Aamir Khan expresses concern over Sonam Wangchuk's health
At the BFI event, Khan said Wangchuk's work deserved respect regardless of any perceived connection with 3 Idiots.
“All of us are very concerned about his health and his life, and we hope that it ends well, and that he ends his fast,” Khan said.
That is a misconception. I know I saw a video of Chatur (Omi Vaidya) recently. He is wrong.
About the Author
Gulam Jeelani
Gulam Jeelani is Political Desk Editor at LiveMint with over 16 years of experience covering national and international politics. Based in New Delhi, Jeelani delivers impactful political narratives through breaking stories, in-depth interviews, and analytical pieces at LiveMint since February 2024. The expertise in video production fuels his current responsibilities, which include curating content and conducting video interviews for an expanding digital audience.<br><br> Jeelani also travels during elections and key political events and has covered assembly elections in key states apart from national elections. He has previously worked with The Pioneer, Network18, India Today, News9Plus and Hindustan Times.<br><br> Jeelani’s tenure at LiveMint and previous experience at print and digital newsrooms have honed his skills in creating compelling text and video stories, explainers, and analysis that resonate with a diverse viewership.<br><br> Before moving to New Delhi in 2015, Jeelani was based in Uttar Pradesh, where he worked for five years as a reporter. In 2018, Jeelani was one of the two Indian journalists selected for the Alfred Friendly Fellowship in the US. There, he attended training workshops on reporting and data journalism, and he was attached to the Minneapolis Star Tribune in Minnesota, where he worked as a reporter.<br><br> Jeelani is a Bachelor's in Chemistry and holds a Masters Degree in journalism and mass communication from Aligarh Muslim University. Outside work, he enjoys poetry, cricket and movies.
Source: Livemint — Politics
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