Aamir Khan Clears the Air on ‘3 Idiots’ Rumour, Opens Up About Films, Career Choices and His Next Project

Aamir Khan recently addressed one of the most talked-about rumours related to 3 Idiots. Speaking during a session at the BFI Southbank in London, held as part of the London Indian Film Festival, the actor said that his character Phunsukh Wangdu was not based on education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.

The rumour has been around for years because both the character and Sonam Wangchuk have worked towards changing the education system. During the conversation, Aamir said that neither director Rajkumar Hirani, writer Abhijat Joshi nor he knew Sonam Wangchuk while making the film.

He added that Sonam Wangchuk’s work deserves respect on its own and does not need to be connected to 3 Idiots. Aamir also spoke about Wangchuk’s health and said everyone hopes his hunger strike ends safely.

The discussion also celebrated 25 years of Lagaan, one of Aamir Khan’s most important films. Looking back, the actor said that while making the film, the team was only focused on getting it right and never imagined that it would still be discussed decades later. He described Lagaan as a story about the strength of the human spirit.

During the interaction, Aamir shared several memories from his career. He revealed that although he belonged to a film family, his parents were not in favour of him becoming an actor. Before entering films, he was also a state-level tennis player and later even got the chance to play an exhibition match with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Talking about his first experience on a film set during Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Aamir recalled feeling nervous because of the loud atmosphere and heavy makeup. He also mentioned that working on Ketan Mehta’s Holi became an important learning experience early in his career.

Speaking about Hindi cinema, Aamir said he considers the 1950s and 1960s to be the golden period because of the filmmakers, writers and music composers of that time. He also shared that he has always preferred choosing films based on the script rather than following trends.

The actor revealed that there was a time when he was going through several box-office failures. During that phase, he turned down a film because he was not convinced by the script. Looking back, he said that decision gave him the confidence to trust his instincts. Since then, he has followed three rules before signing a film: he must believe in the script, trust the director completely and work with a producer who supports the vision of the film.

Aamir also spoke about the personal phase that followed the success of Lagaan and Dil Chahta Hai. He said he took a break from films while going through his divorce and later returned with Mangal Pandey.

Recalling his directorial debut Taare Zameen Par, Aamir said directing children was one of the easiest parts of the film because they performed naturally. He also reflected on later successes like Ghajini, 3 Idiots, PK and Dangal, saying that no one can predict how audiences will respond to a film before its release.

He also spoke about how the way people watch films has changed over the years. According to him, today’s audience has many entertainment choices because of smartphones and digital platforms, making storytelling more important than ever.

Aamir Khan also confirmed his next project, Silkyara 41, based on the 2023 Silkyara tunnel rescue operation in Uttarakhand. The film will be directed by Kabir Khan and written by Australian screenwriter Andrew Anastasios. Production is expected to begin later this year.