New Delhi: Congress, RJD and AAP leaders on Friday questioned actor Aamir Khan’s statement that his character in the film ‘3 Idiots’ was not based on education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, suggesting he was unwilling to take a stand out of fear of the ruling establishment.
RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha questioned the timing of Khan’s clarification.
“How many years did it take him to say this? Until now, everyone knew that (Wangchuk’s life inspired a character in 3 Idiots). It shows that keeping one’s spine straight before those in power is not easy,” Jha told PTI Videos.
Jha also referred to Wangchuk’s ongoing hunger strike, saying his party’s leadership had appealed to the activist to withdraw it as “there is no point holding a fast before a power that lacks compassion”.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also criticised the actor. “Whether it is Aamir Khan or anyone else, this Modi government has exposed everyone’s character. They have all bowed before it. They do not have the courage to speak,” Singh told PTI Videos.
Congress leader Husain Dalwai said Khan should “learn from actor Naseeruddin Shah on how to speak fearlessly” and at least express sympathy for Wangchuk.
“I respect Aamir Khan as an actor and producer, but what is there to be scared of. At least extend some sympathy to Wangchuk,” Dalwai told PTI Videos.
The reactions came after Khan said his character in the 2009 film, 3 Idiots, was not based on Wangchuk and described the belief as a “misconception.”
Speaking during a question-and-answer session at the London Indian Film Festival, Khan said that neither he nor director Rajkumar Hirani nor writer Abhijat Joshi knew Wangchuk while making the film.
“No, that’s not true actually. That is a misconception. I didn’t know about Mr Sonam at that time when we were doing this film ‘3 Idiots’. I want to tell you neither Raju nor Abhijat, the writers of the film, nor I. We didn’t know about Mr Sonam. However, what Mr Sonam is doing is good work in any case. 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 actor also urged Wangchuk to end his indefinite hunger strike, saying everyone was concerned about his health.
Khan’s remarks are at variance with an account narrated by Wangchuk in a 2018 public talk, in which the education reformer said he had met the actor in 2008 at the CNN-IBN Real Heroes awards in Mumbai.
According to Wangchuk, he discussed with Khan the idea of making a film on Siachen and a documentary on his work was screened during the event, where Khan was present.
Wangchuk said that he was told by friends and journalists in December 2009 that a film about him had been made and that his school featured in it. On enquiring with his school, he learnt that members of the film’s team had visited the campus but were denied permission to shoot there because they planned to use a lot of plastic.
The film was eventually shot at another nearby school, he said.
He also said he later came to know that the visit had taken place in April 2008 and shooting for the film began in August that year.
“I will leave it to you (the people) on the connection between this and the film,” Wangchuk had said.
Wangchuk said he initially decided against writing to the filmmakers after learning of the dispute between the makers and author Chetan Bhagat over credit for the story, fearing that any communication from him would be seen as a claim for money.
He said he eventually wrote to the filmmakers about two years later, reminding them that they had met and referring to the film, but did not receive any response.
Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar since June 28 after joining the Cockroach Janata Party’s protest demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
