Imran Khan Joins Student Protests in Mumbai, Aamir Khan Clarifies '3 Idiots' Character Basis

Actor Imran Khan joined a students' protest in Mumbai on Wednesday, expressing solidarity with the young students and demonstrators. The actor was seen participating in the peaceful gathering at Shivaji Park in Dadar and walking alongside the young crowds amid a downpour. Videos and photos of his appearance at the march are now going viral on social media. Imran's participation comes just days after his superstar uncle, Aamir Khan, made headlines after stating that he did not know activist Sonam Wangchuk during a media interaction at the British Film Institute in London.

Imran Khan joins protest in Mumbai

Videos going viral online show Imran marching alongside students at the protest, where he interacted with demonstrators, took selfies and lent his support to their cause. Speaking to Beetroot during the protest, Imran explained why he chose to participate. "I'm here to show support and solidarity with all of the students, whose work have been impacted." Condemning the reported use of force against student protesters, he added, "This violence has absolutely no place in civil public discourse and the actions of the state in this particular instance speak volumes. When you have school protestors, who are raising legitimate and valid concerns for the ones responsible, violence is absolutely unacceptable."

Imran Khan condemns police action against students

A day before attending the Mumbai protest, Imran had shared a strongly worded post on Instagram reacting to reports of police action against students protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. In a post, he wrote, “Something broke in me today. Watching as police gassed and battered student protestors… how could I make sense of this? These students who worked hard, only to be failed by the system. These people who asked to be heard, only to be met with silence. These citizens who stood up to show what matters to them… beaten down and disowned by the establishment." He further questioned the treatment of the protesters, writing, “Are these not the children of Mother India? If not them, for whom do we build, and whose future do we claim to protect? Those who demand ‘organisation’ from students protesting education reform, but don’t apply such lofty standards of accountability to established authority; bootlickers, one and all."

Aamir Khan denies knowing Sonam

Aamir Khan was in the news lately after his appearance at the British Film Institute in London. During a Q&A with the audience, the actor was asked about the long standing belief that his iconic '3 Idiots' character, Phunsukh Wangdu, was based on the Ladakh-based innovator Wangchuk. In the viral clip, Aamir said, "No! That is not true, actually. That is the misconception." He went on to explain, "I didn't know about Mr Sonam at that time when we were doing the film '3 Idiots'. I know I saw a video of Chatur, just recently, he said 'No, he is wrong'. Maybe that is what Chatur was thinking, but I want to tell you that neither director Rajkumar Hirani, nor writer Abhijat Joshi, 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." The actor was also asked about Wangchuk's hunger strike, which has now entered its 19th day. Expressing concern, Aamir said, "Well, I think all of us are concerned for his health and his life. We hope that it ends well and all of us are hoping that he ends his fast."