Aamir Khan has denied that his 3 Idiots character was based on Sonam Wangchuk. Speaking at the BFI London Indian Film Festival on July 16, 2026, Khan called the long-running belief “a misconception.”

But the clarification matters less than what Khan said next. Wangchuk, the Ladakh-based engineer and education reformer many Indians have long linked with Phunsukh Wangdu, is now on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. His health has become serious enough for the Delhi High Court to step in.

What Aamir Khan actually said

Asked about the connection at the London event, Khan said the claim was not correct. “No, that’s not true actually. That is a misconception,” he said, according to reports carried by The Economic Times. Khan added that neither he, director Rajkumar Hirani, nor writer Abhijat Joshi knew about Wangchuk when they were making the 2009 film.

The clarification came after 3 Idiots actor Omi Vaidya, who played Chatur Ramalingam, shared a video urging people to pay attention to Wangchuk’s deteriorating condition. In that video, Vaidya repeated the popular claim that Khan’s character was inspired by Wangchuk. Khan pushed back, saying “Chatur is wrong,” while still praising Wangchuk’s real-life work.

Khan’s larger point was simple: Wangchuk does not need a film connection to deserve respect. “He doesn’t have to be based on the character of 3 Idiots for us to respect him and the work that he does,” Khan said.

The real story: Day 20 of the hunger strike

Wangchuk began his indefinite fast on June 28, 2026, after joining the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest at Jantar Mantar. The protest is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged exam irregularities and paper leaks, including the NEET controversy.

By the time Khan spoke in London on July 16, the fast had entered its 19th day. By Friday, July 17, it had entered Day 20. Reuters reported earlier in the week that Wangchuk’s condition was worsening and that opposition leaders had urged him to end the fast. The Guardian later reported that he looked visibly weak and was unable to speak for long.

The Delhi High Court has now ordered daily health monitoring. A bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said “every life is precious” and directed authorities to ensure regular medical checks and necessary care, according to The Times of India.

Khan’s concern was direct. “I think all of us are very concerned for his health,” he said, adding that he hoped Wangchuk would end his fast and look after himself.

July 20 march now becomes the next flashpoint

As of July 17, the protest is no longer only about Wangchuk’s health. The next focus is the planned march to Parliament on July 20. Even as concern over his condition grew, Wangchuk told supporters that he wanted to stay alive until the march and continue pressing the demand for accountability.

The Cockroach Janta Party has been camping at Jantar Mantar for more than 25 days. The movement, founded by Abhijeet Dipke in May, has grown around anger over exam leaks, student pressure, unemployment and the feeling that young Indians are being ignored by those in power.

That is why Wangchuk’s presence matters. He is not just a well-known innovator from Ladakh. He has also become a national symbol for education reform, environmental work and public protest. His involvement has pulled political leaders, celebrities and civil society voices into a movement that may otherwise have remained limited to student anger.

Cinema, protest and a difficult question

The film link has amplified public attention. For years, many people casually described Wangchuk as the real-life inspiration behind Phunsukh Wangdu. Aamir Khan’s denial may settle that trivia question, but it does not reduce the urgency around Wangchuk’s condition.

Khan was in London for the 25th anniversary celebration of Lagaan when the Wangchuk question came up. That a film festival panel became the place where India’s most closely watched protest-health story was discussed says a lot about how deeply cinema and public life overlap in India.

For fans, the 3 Idiots connection made Wangchuk easier to recognise. For Khan, the correction was necessary. But the bigger issue now is no longer whether a fictional character was inspired by him. It is whether the government, courts and protest organisers can find a way to address the demands without letting the situation worsen further.