Aamir Khan denies that his “3 Idiots” character was based on Ladakhi educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. Speaking at public events, Khan says that neither he nor the film’s writers had any knowledge of Wangchuk at the time the movie was being made. He adds that, because of this, the character could not have been written as a portrayal of Wangchuk. The denial is presented as a response to a long-running claim that “3 Idiots” drew inspiration from Wangchuk. Multiple outlets report Khan making the clarification directly, framing it as a correction of what he describes as an inaccurate rumor. One report notes that the denial also comes amid renewed public attention to Wangchuk, including references to his hunger strike, but Khan’s core point remains the same across sources: the alleged connection was not based on any familiarity or involvement when the film was produced. The outlets collectively describe Khan reiterating that the characterization in “3 Idiots” was not linked to Wangchuk’s life or work.