A massive controversy has erupted on social media platforms as an old video featuring Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan and renowned Ladakhi education reformer Sonam Wangchuk has resurfaced. The viral clip emerged online just hours after the actor publicly claimed that he had no knowledge of the climate activist during the making of his 2009 blockbuster movie, 3 Idiots. Speaking at an event hosted by the British Film Institute in London, Aamir Khan firmly dismissed the long-held belief that his iconic character, Phunsukh Wangdu, was inspired by Sonam Wangchuk, calling the connection a complete misconception. The superstar emphasized that neither he, director Rajkumar Hirani, nor writer Abhijat Joshi knew about Wangchuk or his work while developing the film’s screenplay. While Aamir Khan explicitly stated that the character stood on its own, his public denial has triggered immense backlash from fans who quickly dug up archival footage directly contradicting his statements.
The newly resurfaced video from 2008 shows a prominent awards ceremony where Sonam Wangchuk was honored with a prestigious award for his revolutionary contributions to education in Ladakh. In the footage, Aamir Khan is seen actively participating in the event, clapping enthusiastically from the audience, and personally meeting the Ladakhi innovator. Netizens were quick to highlight that this formal interaction took place an entire year before the theatrical release of 3 Idiots, severely undermining the actor’s claim of absolute ignorance. In the viral clip, Wangchuk himself recalls meeting the actor in Mumbai during that 2008 event, where he even pitched a film concept centered around the geopolitical tensions of the Siachen Glacier. The activist shared that Aamir Khan had listened to his ideas intently and watched his detailed presentation with great interest, proving that the two had shared a significant creative discussion long before the film entered production.
The sudden contradiction has left fans and movie enthusiasts highly critical of the Bollywood superstar, with many taking to social media to question his honesty and timing. Social media users pointed out that the production crew of 3 Idiots had famously visited a school closely associated with Wangchuk in Ladakh back in 2008. According to historical accounts, the school authorities had eventually denied the production team permission to shoot on campus because the filmmakers were keeping the project details tightly under wraps and attempting to bring a large amount of plastic waste into the eco-sensitive zone. Consequently, the iconic school scenes were shifted to another nearby educational institution in the region. Given these deeply rooted physical connections, fans are finding it incredibly difficult to believe that Aamir Khan and his creative team were completely unaware of the region’s most prominent educational pioneer while actively filming on his home turf.
The timing of Aamir Khan’s controversial clarification has also drawn sharp criticism from political figures and social activists across the country. The debate comes at a highly sensitive moment as Sonam Wangchuk is currently on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, protesting for systemic educational reforms and strict administrative accountability. While Aamir Khan did extend his moral support by expressing concern over the activist’s rapidly deteriorating health and urging him to end his fast, critics argue that the actor is intentionally distancing himself from the reformer to avoid any friction with the political establishment. Several opposition leaders have publicly rebuked the actor, claiming that his sudden denial after nearly two decades of silence reveals a lack of courage to stand firmly by a national hero during a critical public protest. As the video continues to gain millions of views online, the contrast between the 2008 archival footage and the actor’s current stance has significantly dented the superstar’s public image, keeping the internet deeply divided over the true origins of Hindi cinema’s most beloved character.
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