Aamir Khan Addresses Controversy Surrounding Sonam Wangchuk's Hunger Strike
Aamir Khan Breaks Silence on Sonam Wangchuk's Hunger Strike
Omi Vaidya, known for his role as Chatur in the film 3 Idiots, recently expressed support for activist Sonam Wangchuk during his hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, prompting fans to question the silence of Aamir Khan and others. Aamir has now responded, clarifying that the character he portrayed was not inspired by Wangchuk. He emphasized that neither he, director Rajkumar Hirani, nor writer Abhijat Joshi were acquainted with Wangchuk during the film's production. Aamir did, however, express concern for Wangchuk's well-being and encouraged him to conclude his fast.
Clarification on 3 Idiots Character
During an event at the British Film Institute, Aamir was questioned about Wangchuk and his protest. He stated, "No, that's not true, actually. That is a misconception. I didn't know about Mr. Sonam Wangchuk at that time when we were doing the film. I know that, I saw a video of Chatur, just recently he said that... No, he's wrong. Maybe that's what Chatur was thinking but I want to tell you neither did Raju, nor Abhijat (one of the two writers), nor I, we didn't know about Sonam." This statement follows Omi's emotional video message expressing his desire for Funsukh Wangdu to survive.
Aamir continued, "However, what Mr. Sonam is doing is good work anyway. He doesn't need to be based on the character of 3 Idiots for us to respect him and the work he's done." He also noted that Wangchuk himself had previously stated that the character was not modeled after him. "Just from the factual point of view, I wanted to clarify," added the Laal Singh Chaddha star.
Today at @BFI I asked Mr Amir Khan about @Wangchuk66 and his fast. Here is his response: @abhijeet_dipke @CJP_2029 @Cockroachisback @SauravDassss pic.twitter.com/jkeKFssrDX
— nabanita sircar (@sircarnabanita) July 16, 2026
Aamir Khan Urges Wangchuk to Prioritize His Health
In solidarity with other celebrities, Aamir Khan urged Wangchuk to end his hunger strike, stating, "Well, all of us are very concerned about his health and his life. And we hope that it ends well. All of us are hoping that he ends his fast and looks after himself." His comments have received mixed reactions, with some expressing disappointment, including the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), who labeled his response as "disappointing" and "very cold." Celebrities such as Imran Khan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sonakshi Sinha, Aayush Sharma, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Vivek Oberoi have also voiced their support for Wangchuk during this critical time.