Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Sonam Wangchuk Challenges Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots Claims
Aamir Khan played a character called Phunsukh Wangdu in the movie 3 Idiots.
Many people believe the character was inspired by Sonam Wangchuk, an educator and activist from Ladakh.
Aamir said this was a misconception and that he did not know Wangchuk when the film was being made.
He also said Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi did not know Wangchuk then.
Actor Omi Vaidya gave a different account and said Wangdu was based on Wangchuk.
An old video later showed Aamir at an event where Wangchuk was receiving an award and giving a speech.
Wangchuk said they had spoken in detail and discussed ideas.
He joked that Aamir may have forgotten the meeting because he was dressed as a character from Ghajini, who has short-term memory loss.
Wangchuk said he does not consider 3 Idiots a biography of his life, but believes their interaction may have influenced some ideas.
Aamir Khan said Phunsukh Wangdu in 3 Idiots was not based on Sonam Wangchuk.
Aamir said he, director Rajkumar Hirani, and writer Abhijat Joshi did not know Wangchuk while making the film.
Omi Vaidya disputed Aamir’s account and said Wangdu was based on Wangchuk.
A resurfaced video from a 2008 event showed Aamir watching Wangchuk’s speech while dressed as his Ghajini character.
Wangchuk said they had met at length and joked that Aamir may have forgotten because of “short-term memory loss.”
- Who
- Sonam Wangchuk, Aamir Khan, and Omi Vaidya are central to the dispute; Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi were also mentioned.
- What
- Wangchuk responded to Aamir’s claims that Phunsukh Wangdu was not based on him and that they had not met before 3 Idiots was made.
- When
- The response followed Aamir’s recent comments and the resurfacing of a video from a 2008 event, before 3 Idiots was released in 2009.
- Where
- Wangchuk made the remarks on YouTuber Prakhar Gupta’s podcast; the video showed the pair at an award event.
- Why
- The disagreement concerns whether Wangchuk inspired Phunsukh Wangdu and whether he and Aamir met before the film’s release.
Sonam Wangchuk and Omi Vaidya’s Account
Aamir Khan’s Account
Whether Aamir and Wangchuk had met
Sonam Wangchuk and Omi Vaidya’s Account
Wangchuk said the resurfaced video showed Aamir watching his speech at an event and said they spoke at length and discussed ideas.
Aamir Khan’s Account
Aamir said he did not know Wangchuk while 3 Idiots was being made.
Inspiration for Phunsukh Wangdu
Sonam Wangchuk and Omi Vaidya’s Account
Omi Vaidya said the character was based on Wangchuk. Wangchuk said he would not call the film a biography but suggested ideas from their meeting may have influenced it.
Aamir Khan’s Account
Aamir said the belief that Phunsukh Wangdu was based on Wangchuk was a misconception and that Omi Vaidya was wrong.
- Film at issue
- 3 Idiots, released in 2009
- Disputed character
- Phunsukh Wangdu
- Aamir Khan’s position
- He called the Wangchuk connection a misconception and said he, Rajkumar Hirani, and Abhijat Joshi did not know Wangchuk while making the film.
- Omi Vaidya’s position
- He said Phunsukh Wangdu was based on Sonam Wangchuk.
- Resurfaced video
- The video showed Aamir watching Wangchuk’s speech at a 2008 event where Wangchuk was receiving the Real Heroes Award for his work in education in Ladakh.
- Wangchuk’s response
- He said they met in detail and discussed ideas, while joking that Aamir may have forgotten the encounter because he was dressed as his Ghajini character.
- Response venue
- Prakhar Gupta’s podcast
Sources
'Ghajini Mein Itne Ghus Chuke The, Toh Short-Term Memory Loss...': Sonam Wangchuk Takes Dig At Aamir Khan's 'Never Met' Claim Before 3 Idiots
'Maybe He Had Short-Term Memory Loss': Sonam Wangchuk's Cheeky Reply To Aamir Khan's We Never Met' Claim
Sonam Wangchuk responds to Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots claims: ‘Must be short-term memory loss’
