Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has made his first public comments on education activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike and clarified a long-standing claim about his 2009 hit film '3 Idiots'.
Speaking at the London Indian Film Festival during the 25th anniversary celebration of 'Lagaan', Aamir said his character, Ranchoddas “Rancho” Shyamaldas Chanchad, was not based on Sonam Wangchuk.
The actor said that neither he nor the film’s director Rajkumar Hirani and writer Abhijat Joshi knew Wangchuk while making '3 Idiots'. He said the belief that Rancho was inspired by the activist was incorrect.
Aamir added that Wangchuk’s achievements stand on their own and do not need to be linked to a film character for recognition. He said the activist’s work deserves attention for its real impact rather than comparisons with a fictional role.
While speaking about the ongoing hunger strike, the 'Ghajini' actor expressed concern over Wangchuk’s health.
Aamir’s comments came after social media users criticised him for not speaking about Wangchuk’s protest. These remarks were his first public response to the matter.
Reports said Sonam Wangchuk had been on an indefinite hunger strike at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for 20 days. The protest began over alleged exam paper leaks and later developed into a wider campaign seeking reforms in India’s competitive examination system.
Wangchuk has also called on supporters to join a “Chalo Parliament” march on July 20, urging citizens to raise their voices for education reform. His campaign continues to receive support from students, activists and public figures, leading to wider discussions on examination reforms and India’s education system.
