New Delhi, July 14, 2026

Actor Omi Vaidya has voiced concern over the health of educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar has drawn fresh public attention. Through an emotional social media message, the 3 Idiots actor urged people to understand the issues behind Wangchuk's protest, highlighting the importance of discussions around education, Ladakh's autonomy and environmental concerns.

Sharing a heartfelt video, Vaidya introduced himself before making his appeal. He said, "Don't let Phunsukh Wangdu die. Hello idiots, pehchana? This is Omi Vaidya, Chatur from 3 Idiots and Sadiq from The Office, and I have an important message for you. I don't really do this very often, so please listen up." Referring to Sonam Wangchuk as the inspiration behind the character Phunsukh Wangdu from 3 Idiots, he added, "Did you know that Phunsukh Wangdu from 3 Idiots is actually based on a real-life Ladakhi engineer, innovator, educator and reformer named Sonam Wangchuk? I've met this guy. He's a pretty interesting character."

Praising Wangchuk's work in education and innovation, Vaidya expressed concern about his deteriorating health during the ongoing fast. He said, "Right now he is on a very long hunger strike. His blood sugar has gone down very much. I don't know if you've heard about this. I don't know if the media is reporting this. But this is a pretty important thing." Explaining the purpose of the protest, he noted that Wangchuk is raising concerns related to education, Ladakh's autonomy and environmental issues before concluding, "Whether you agree with him or not, I don't really want this guy to die."

The emotional appeal has resonated widely, largely because Sonam Wangchuk is widely regarded as the real-life inspiration behind the iconic character Phunsukh Wangdu from 3 Idiots. As attention around his hunger strike continues to grow, Vaidya's message has reinforced the need to focus on Wangchuk's health while encouraging people to engage with the issues at the heart of his protest.