GUWAHATI: Actor Omi Vaidya, best known for portraying Chatur Ramalingam in the Bollywood film 3 Idiots, has extended his support to educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
ALSO READ: Three UP Tourists Arrested for Allegedly Vandalising Meghalaya Homestay
Invoking the character of Phunsukh Wangdu, widely believed to have been inspired by Wangchuk, Vaidya urged the public to pay attention to the activist's deteriorating health and the issues he is protesting over.
In a video shared on social media on Tuesday, July 14, Vaidya made an emotional appeal, saying, "I don't want Phunsukh Wangdu to die."
Introducing himself, he said, "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."
Vaidya said Wangchuk was protesting over issues related to education, Ladakh's autonomy and environmental concerns. "Whether you agree with him or not, I don't really want this guy to die," he said, urging people to understand the issues instead of ignoring them.
Wangchuk is currently on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online satirical movement demanding educational reforms in India. Led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, the group's immediate demand is the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy.
Meanwhile, concern over Wangchuk's health continues to grow. On Tuesday, Dipke shared an update on social media, claiming that Wangchuk has lost around 8.5 kg since beginning his fast and has started losing muscle mass.
According to Dipke, Wangchuk's blood pressure was recorded at 109/70, and he is experiencing severe pain. Dipke said he urged the activist to end his fast, but Wangchuk refused.
"He has started losing muscle mass and is in immense pain. Like everyone else, I begged him to end his fast. He calmly replied, 'Don't ask me to end my fast. Ask the government why they won't even have a dialogue,'" Dipke wrote.
#WATCH | Omi Vaidya, best known as 'Chatur' from 3 Idiots, has extended his support to Sonam Wangchuk amid his hunger strike. In a video, Vaidya urged people to stand together and raise their voices for Wangchuk, calling for collective action and support.@CJP_for_India pic.twitter.com/R4r6HABoLB
— GPlus (@guwahatiplus) July 14, 2026