Engineer, innovator and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk has taken a fresh dig at Bollywood actor Aamir Khan over his claim that the two had never met before the release of 3 Idiots. Wangchuk discussed his alleged interactions with Khan during a recent appearance on a YouTuber's podcast, revisiting the long-running debate over the film's connection with his life and ideas.
During the conversation, Wangchuk recalled meeting Aamir Khan at an award function, where the two reportedly spoke about several ideas. He also referred to videos that he said showed Aamir watching one of his speeches while dressed in the distinctive look of his character Sanjay Singhania from Ghajini.
Wangchuk appeared to respond sarcastically to Aamir's earlier statement that they had not met before 3 Idiots. Referring to the apparent contradiction, he suggested that the actor might have experienced “short-term memory loss.”
Wangchuk Clarifies His Position on 3 Idiots
While discussing the controversy, Wangchuk maintained that he does not claim that 3 Idiots was directly based on him.
Instead, he believes that some of his ideas and experiences may have influenced aspects of the film. Wangchuk's real-life work in education, particularly his approach to alternative learning methods and his advocacy for changes in India's education system, has often been compared with themes explored in 3 Idiots.
The 2009 Rajkumar Hirani-directed film featured Aamir Khan as Rancho, a student who challenges conventional approaches to education and questions the pressure placed on young people to pursue traditional career paths.
Wangchuk has previously said that similarities between his work and the film's central ideas prompted discussions about whether his experiences inspired portions of the story. However, he has stopped short of claiming that the entire film was directly based on his life.
Why Sonam Wangchuk and 3 Idiots Are Linked
The comparison largely stems from similarities between Wangchuk's educational philosophy and the character Rancho's approach in 3 Idiots. Wangchuk founded the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) and has advocated practical, environmentally conscious and student-focused approaches to education.
The character Rancho similarly questions rote learning and conventional academic systems, becoming an advocate for learning driven by curiosity rather than simply competing for grades.
The issue has resurfaced several times over the years, particularly because Wangchuk's life and work became widely known following the success of the film.
Aamir Khan's Earlier Statement
Aamir Khan has previously said that he did not personally know Wangchuk before 3 Idiots. Wangchuk's latest comments appear to challenge that version of events by recalling an interaction at an award ceremony and pointing to footage that he believes supports his recollection.
However, Wangchuk has again clarified that his argument is not that the movie was directly copied from his life, but that his ideas may have reached the filmmakers and influenced the story.
The latest exchange has once again sparked discussion among fans about the inspiration behind 3 Idiots and the similarities between its fictional protagonist and Wangchuk's real-world educational work.
