Aamir Khan breaks silence on 3 Idiots inspiration, says Rancho was not based on Sonam Wangchuk

For nearly 17 years, one of Bollywood's most popular myths has been that Aamir Khan's unforgettable character Rancho, or Phunsukh Wangdu, in 3 Idiots was inspired by engineer, innovator and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk. The belief has been repeated so often that many accepted it as fact. However, Aamir Khan has now firmly dismissed the claim. Speaking during the closing gala of the 17th London Indian Film Festival, the actor clarified that neither he nor the film's writers even knew Sonam Wangchuk while making Rajkumar Hirani's 2009 blockbuster. His comments come at a time when Wangchuk's ongoing hunger strike has once again brought him into the national spotlight. While rejecting the long-standing comparison, Aamir also made it clear that respecting Wangchuk's work does not depend on whether he inspired a fictional character.

Why did Aamir Khan say 'Chatur was wrong'?

The conversation took place at BFI Southbank in London on July 16 during an interaction with the audience. One attendee mentioned that 3 Idiots had influenced an entire generation and suggested that Aamir's character was inspired by Sonam Wangchuk.

Aamir immediately corrected the assumption.

"No. That's not true actually. That is a misconception. I didn't know about Mr Sonam at the time when we were doing the film 3 Idiots," he said.

The actor then humorously referred to Omi Vaidya's recent video supporting Wangchuk. Omi had revived his iconic "Chatur" character and said, "I don't want Phunsukh Wangdu to die."

Responding with a smile, Aamir joked, "Chatur was wrong." The audience laughed, but Aamir quickly returned to a serious note.

Did the writers know Sonam Wangchuk while making 3 Idiots?

According to Aamir, the answer is a clear no. He explained that neither director Rajkumar Hirani nor writer Abhijat Joshi, who wrote the screenplay, had any knowledge of Sonam Wangchuk during the making of the film.

Aamir said that while the comparison has become popular over the years, it is factually incorrect. He also pointed out that Wangchuk himself has publicly clarified on multiple occasions that the character was not based on him. He added that this does not diminish Wangchuk's achievements or the respect people have for his work.

What did Aamir say about Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike?

Even while distancing 3 Idiots from Wangchuk's life, Aamir expressed concern over the activist's health.

He said everyone is worried about Wangchuk's wellbeing and hopes that he ends his fast safely.

The actor avoided commenting on the politics surrounding the protest but stressed that preserving Wangchuk's life is important.

What had Sonam Wangchuk claimed years ago?

Long before Aamir's latest clarification, Sonam Wangchuk had shared his own version of events. Speaking during a Josh Talks session, he recalled meeting Aamir Khan in 2008 at a CNN-IBN awards ceremony.

According to Wangchuk, he had suggested making a film on the Siachen conflict, arguing that countries were spending nearly Rs 7 crore every day over a glacier while that money could instead be invested in education. He said Aamir listened attentively and also watched an audio-visual presentation showcasing his work.

Soon afterwards, Wangchuk travelled to France to study Earth Architecture.

A year later, after 3 Idiots hit theatres, he began receiving congratulatory emails from people who believed the film had been made on his life.

What happened when Wangchuk learnt about the film?

Wangchuk said he was surprised by the messages and contacted his school for answers. He was informed that a film crew had indeed visited but had not revealed the project's details. According to him, permission to shoot at his school was denied because the crew intended to bring plastic materials, which went against the institution's environmental principles. The filmmakers later shot at another nearby school.

He also explained why he chose not to raise the issue immediately after the film's release.

He famously remarked that he had "better things to do in life."

What is Sonam Wangchuk protesting now?

Sonam Wangchuk is currently on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. His protest centres around alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, broader education reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

His ongoing fast has attracted support from actors, filmmakers, digital creators and several public figures, many of whom have urged the government to initiate dialogue while also appealing to Wangchuk to end the hunger strike in the interest of his health.

Did you know this popular 3 Idiots belief has existed for years?

One of the biggest talking points surrounding 3 Idiots has always been the resemblance many viewers saw between Phunsukh Wangdu and Sonam Wangchuk. The similarity became so widely accepted that it evolved into Bollywood folklore, despite neither the filmmakers nor Wangchuk officially confirming it at the time.

Now, with Aamir Khan publicly stating that the makers were unaware of Wangchuk while developing the film and reminding audiences that Wangchuk himself has denied being the inspiration, one of Hindi cinema's longest-running myths has finally been addressed.

Whether the resemblance was coincidental or simply amplified by public imagination, Aamir Khan has now placed the official version on record. According to the actor, Rancho was never modelled on Sonam Wangchuk. At the same time, he believes Wangchuk's contribution to education and society deserves appreciation on its own merits, regardless of any connection to 3 Idiots.