Renowned Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has addressed the growing speculation surrounding his iconic character, 'Rancho,' from the blockbuster film '3 Idiots.' During a special appearance at the closing ceremony of the London Film Festival, following a screening of his classic 'Lagaan,' Khan explicitly stated that the character was not modeled after the acclaimed Ladakhi innovator and activist, Sonam Wangchuk.

Debunking the Inspiration Myth

The confusion arose after Omi Vaidya, who played the character 'Chatur' in the film, suggested in a viral social media video that the character 'Phunsukh Wangdu' was inspired by Mr. Wangchuk. Addressing this, Aamir Khan dismissed the notion as a misconception. "I want to clarify from a factual standpoint that neither I, nor the director Rajkumar Hirani, or the writers Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi, knew about Mr. Sonam at the time of making the film," Khan remarked.

Respecting the Activist's Work

While distancing the film's creative process from the activist, Khan was quick to laud Wangchuk's real-world contributions. He emphasized that the respect accorded to Wangchuk is due to his monumental work in education and innovation, independent of any cinematic connection. "What Mr. Sonam is doing is good work in any case. He doesn’t have to be based on a character of 3 idiots for us to respect him," the actor added.

A Call for Concern

The conversation took a somber turn as Khan addressed the critical health of Sonam Wangchuk. The activist has been observing an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding administrative and educational reforms. As reports indicate Wangchuk's health has significantly declined after nearly three weeks of fasting, Khan expressed his heartfelt wishes, stating, "All of us are very concerned for his health and his life. We hope it ends well. All of us are hoping that he ends his fast."