Indian American ‘3 Idiots’ star Omi Vaidya backs Sonam Wangchuk

Indian American actor **Omi Vaidya**, widely recognized for his unforgettable role as **Chatur Ramalingam ("Silencer")** in the blockbuster Bollywood film *3 Idiots*, has voiced strong support for Ladakhi engineer, educator, and climate activist **Sonam Wangchuk**, urging the public to pay attention to his worsening health during an indefinite hunger strike. Through a heartfelt video shared on Instagram, Vaidya reminded audiences that the iconic character **Phunsukh Wangdu**, portrayed by Aamir Khan in *3 Idiots*, was inspired by Wangchuk’s life and work. Calling him a humble, brilliant innovator and reformer, Vaidya said he had personally met Wangchuk and described him as someone deeply committed to education, environmental conservation, and social change. Expressing concern over reports that Wangchuk’s blood sugar had dropped significantly during the fast, Vaidya appealed for greater public awareness, saying that regardless of political opinions, no one should want to see such an influential figure lose his life. Wangchuk is currently continuing his indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where organizers say he has lost nearly nine kilograms while protesting issues related to education, Ladakh’s autonomy, environmental protection, and alleged irregularities in India’s NEET examination. Protesters have also demanded accountability from the government, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide. Vaidya’s emotional appeal has renewed attention to Wangchuk’s campaign while reminding audiences of the real-life inspiration behind one of Bollywood’s most beloved characters. Beyond *3 Idiots*, Vaidya has appeared in several Hindi films and American television productions, but his message has once again connected cinema with real-world social issues, encouraging people to look beyond the screen and recognize the individual whose ideas inspired millions through the legendary film.