Aamir Khan says the iconic Rancho character in 3 Idiots was not inspired by Sonam Wangchuk and expresses concern over the activist’s ongoing hunger strike demanding education reforms in India.
LONDON: Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has publicly addressed education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk’s ongoing hunger strike for the first time, while also dismissing a long-standing belief that the iconic character Rancho from the 2009 film 3 Idiots was inspired by Wangchuk.
Speaking at the London Indian Film Festival during celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of Lagaan, Aamir said neither he nor 3 Idiots director Rajkumar Hirani and writer Abhijat Joshi knew Wangchuk when the film was being developed.
The actor clarified that Ranchoddas “Rancho” Shyamaldas Chanchad was not based on Sonam Wangchuk, describing the popular claim as incorrect. He added that Wangchuk’s achievements deserve recognition on their own rather than through comparisons with a fictional character.
Commenting on the activist’s ongoing protest, Aamir expressed concern for Wangchuk’s health and said many people hope the hunger strike concludes safely without causing harm to him.
The statement comes after the actor faced criticism on social media from users questioning his silence over Wangchuk’s protest. His remarks mark his first public response to the issue.
According to reports, Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for the past 19 days. The protest, which reportedly began over concerns about alleged examination paper leaks, has expanded into a broader campaign calling for reforms in India’s competitive examination system.
The protesters are demanding greater transparency, accountability and fairness in examinations, while also seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Wangchuk has also called on supporters to join a “Chalo Parliament” march on July 20 to press for education reforms.
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