Leh: Activist, educator and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk has responded with humour to actor Aamir Khan’s recent claim that his popular character Phunsukh Wangdu in the 2009 blockbuster 3 Idiots was not modelled on him.
The debate over whether Wangchuk inspired the character gained fresh attention after 3 Idiots actor Omi Vaidya stated on social media that Phunsukh Wangdu was based on the Ladakh-based education reformer and innovator. However, Aamir later disagreed with the claim, saying that Vaidya was mistaken and that neither he nor director Rajkumar Hirani and co-writer Abhijat Joshi knew Wangchuk at the time.
Aamir’s clarification was followed by the resurfacing of an old video showing him meeting Wangchuk before the release of 3 Idiots, reigniting the discussion on the possible inspiration behind the film’s central character.
Wangchuk responds with humour
Addressing Aamir’s remarks during an appearance on Prakhar Gupta’s podcast, Wangchuk jokingly suggested that the actor may have forgotten their meeting because he was immersed in his character from Ghajini.
“In the videos that resurfaced, he was watching my speech in his Ghajini outfit. Maybe because he was in the Ghajini outfit, he may have encountered short-term memory loss. He may have forgotten our meeting after 15 minutes. So, I’m not surprised,” Wangchuk said.
The comment referred to Aamir’s character in the 2008 film Ghajini, in which he played a man suffering from short-term memory loss.
Wangchuk also said that his interaction with Aamir at the time was not merely a brief meeting. According to him, the two had discussed several ideas in detail.
He said Aamir is known for becoming deeply immersed in the characters he portrays and humorously suggested that this may have contributed to the actor forgetting the encounter.
Wangchuk said he had met Aamir at an award function where he received an award, and added that they had a detailed discussion.
“They say he gets too immersed in his characters. So, maybe he was too immersed in the Ghajini character when he saw me receive an award at an award function he also attended. Otherwise we discussed a lot of ideas,” he said.
No claim that the character was entirely based on him
Despite the playful response, Wangchuk clarified that he was not claiming that Phunsukh Wangdu was entirely modelled on him.
He described the possible connection as one of influence or inspiration, while acknowledging that the final character may have been shaped by several ideas and creative inputs.
“That’s what we call an influence or an inspiration, right?” Wangchuk said, adding that Aamir may have discussed ideas with the writers, who could have subsequently developed them differently.
He further said that the influence could even have worked subconsciously and that the writers may not necessarily have known the origin of certain ideas.
Wangchuk maintained that he had no objection to the matter, regardless of whether the similarities between his life and the character were deliberate or coincidental.
His response appeared to strike a conciliatory tone while also acknowledging the striking parallels that have fuelled speculation for years.
The debate over Phunsukh Wangdu
The character of Phunsukh Wangdu has long been associated with Wangchuk because of similarities between the fictional character and the real-life educator and innovator.
In 3 Idiots, Aamir’s character is eventually revealed to be Phunsukh Wangdu, a renowned innovator, educator and environmentalist based in Ladakh. For much of the film, he is known to his college friends as Rancho.
The character is portrayed as a highly intelligent student who studies engineering under an assumed identity and later becomes a celebrated innovator working to improve education and promote practical learning.
Wangchuk, too, is widely known for his work in education, innovation and environmental initiatives in Ladakh. His career and public image have led many viewers to draw comparisons with the character since the film’s release.
However, the filmmakers and actors have faced questions over the years about the extent to which real-life personalities and experiences influenced the story.
The latest controversy emerged after Omi Vaidya, who played Chatur Ramalingam in the film, reportedly said that Phunsukh Wangdu was based on Wangchuk. Aamir subsequently rejected that assertion, saying Vaidya was wrong and that the creative team did not know Wangchuk when the film was being developed.
The resurfaced video of Aamir meeting Wangchuk before the film’s release added another layer to the debate, prompting Wangchuk’s latest remarks.
About the blockbuster film
Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, 3 Idiots was one of the biggest Indian films of its time and became widely popular for its portrayal of friendship, the pressures of the education system and the importance of pursuing one’s passion.
The film starred Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Boman Irani, Mona Singh, Ali Fazal and Jaaved Jaffrey, among others. It was co-written and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra.
The story follows three engineering students as they navigate academic pressure, competition and personal challenges. Aamir’s character emerges as the driving force behind the film’s message of learning for knowledge rather than merely chasing marks and success.
The film reportedly earned more than ₹460 crore worldwide and remains one of the most recognised Hindi films of its generation.
Reports have also suggested that the makers are considering a sequel featuring members of the original cast. However, the current discussion surrounding the film has focused less on its future and more on the long-standing question of whether Phunsukh Wangdu was influenced by Wangchuk.
For his part, Wangchuk’s latest response appears to have offered a light-hearted end to the debate. While he stopped short of claiming direct credit for the character, he maintained that his meeting and detailed interaction with Aamir could reasonably be viewed as a source of influence or inspiration.
Excerpt: Sonam Wangchuk jokingly reacts to Aamir Khan’s claim that 3 Idiots character Phunsukh Wangdu was not directly inspired by him.
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Meta title: Sonam Wangchuk jokes over Aamir’s 3 Idiots claim
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