Actor Aamir Khan issued a statement clarifying that his popular 2009 film '3 Idiots' was not created under the influence of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. However, he also expressed deep concern regarding Wangchuk's ongoing hunger strike.
Actor Aamir Khan issued a statement clarifying that his popular 2009 film '3 Idiots' was not created under the influence of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. However, he also expressed deep concern regarding Wangchuk's ongoing hunger strike.
During a public event organized by the London Indian Film Festival, Aamir Khan commented on the long-standing speculation that Wangchuk's life served as inspiration for the character Phunsukh Wangdu in '3 Idiots'. The actor stated: 'It is not true. It is a misconception. When we were working on '3 Idiots', I did not know Sonam Wangchuk. Recently, I watched Chatur's video. He is mistaken. Perhaps Chatur thought so. But neither Rajkumar Hirani nor Abhijit Joshi, who were the screenwriters, actually know about Sonam Wangchuk.'
During the discussion, Aamir Khan was also asked about Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike. The actor expressed care for the activist's well-being and hoped that his fast would soon end. He emphasized: 'We are all very concerned about his health and life. We hope everything ends well. We all hope he will stop his fast.'
The London Indian Film Festival resumed its activities for the 17th year, presenting numerous new premieres from India and South Asia. Aamir Khan attended this event on July 16 in London, where he participated in a special panel discussion. Actor Om Vaidey, known for his role as 'Chatur' in '3 Idiots' alongside Aamir Khan, recently shared his concerns about Wangchuk's deteriorating health.
In a video message, Vaidey noted that he does not wish death upon the character 'Phunsukh Wangdu', and mentioned that the character from '3 Idiots' is based on the real life of Sonam Wangchuk. He added: 'I met this guy. He is quite an interesting character. He has done incredible things in his life, and he seems quite humble. I advise you to look him up and see what he does, because right now he is on a very long fast.'
Sonam Wangchuk, an engineer, education reformer, and climate activist from Ladakh, is on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. His protest aims to demand the resignation of India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid irregularities in national examinations and the major NEET exam leak scandal. As of 9:30 AM on July 17, Wangchuk's health parameters showed a weight of 56.55 kg, a decrease of 350 grams in 24 hours. His blood pressure was 108/68, blood sugar level was 70 mg/dL, and pulse rate was 72 per minute.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, whose career spans over five decades, is known for his high-quality film production and candid opinions. Recently, he shared his thoughts on raising growing children, especially in light of his daughter Alia Bhatt facing negativity on social media.
In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Mahesh Bhatt stated that he never gives advice to his children because he considers them wiser. He emphasized that they belong to the modern era and will learn independently, as life is the only teacher.
When asked about wanting to protect his children as a father, the director noted the importance of children experiencing public attention themselves. He expressed the view that attempts to shield them might make them weak, advising them to experience the spotlight, just as everyone faces trials.
Bhatt considers the intense public scrutiny of actors as part of the professional process. He explained that 'fame has its price'; if a person is in the sun, sunburn is inevitable. Therefore, he does not try to impose his life experience on his children, believing that their path, timing, and lives are different from his own.
Speaking about generational changes, Bhatt presented a broad view on raising adult children. He noted that parents cannot expect their children to apply life lessons exactly as they did. He compared it to the flow of a river, which is constantly changing, and the impossibility of traversing the same river twice.
Regarding work, Alia Bhatt's film 'Alpha' has been released in theaters. This film, directed by Shiv Ravjiani and part of the YRF Spy Universe, also features Sharvari, Anil Kapoor, and Bobby Deol.
