Key facts
- Omi Vaidya and Naseeruddin Shah urged Wangchuk to end hunger strike
- Vaidya warned 'Phunsuk Wangdu may die', referencing his 3 Idiots character
- Wangchuk is demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule protections for Ladakh
Actors Omi Vaidya and Naseeruddin Shah have appealed to Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike, with Vaidya making an emotionally charged plea by warning that "Phunsuk Wangdu may die" — invoking the 3 Idiots character widely seen as inspired by Wangchuk himself.
Wangchuk, the Ladakh-based engineer, educator and climate activist, has been on a hunger strike demanding that Ladakh be granted full statehood and Sixth Schedule protections under the Constitution, which would safeguard the region's land and culture. His protest has drawn considerable national and international attention, particularly given his global profile as an innovator and environmentalist.
Omi Vaidya, who played Chatur Ramalingam in 3 Idiots, referenced the Phunsuk Wangdu character — the idealistic engineering genius loosely based on Wangchuk — to make an emotional, culturally resonant appeal. The crossover between reel life and real life gave the message unusual poignancy. Naseeruddin Shah, a veteran actor known for his outspoken views on public affairs, also added his voice urging Wangchuk to step back from the brink.
The intervention by two film personalities brings greater public visibility to Wangchuk's cause at a critical moment. Whether it will influence either Wangchuk's decision or the government's response to his demands remains to be seen, but the appeal has certainly reignited mainstream media conversation around Ladakh's constitutional status.