'I don't want Phunsukh Wangdu to die': '3 Idiots' star Omi Vaidya's emotional appeal for Sonam Wangchuk

In a video shared on Instagram, Vaidya appealed to the public to pay attention to Wangchuk's protest, saying the issue had not received adequate media coverage.

'I don't want Phunsukh Wangdu to die'

Drawing a parallel between Wangchuk and Phunsukh Wangdu, the character played by Aamir Khan in 3 Idiots, Vaidya reminded viewers that the iconic character was inspired by the real-life engineer and innovator.

In the video, he said: "I don't want Phunsukh Wangdu to 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."

He continued: "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."

Describing Wangchuk as "humble" and a "pretty impressive person", Vaidya added: "Whether you agree with him or not, I don't really want this guy to die."

The actor urged people to take time to understand the issues behind the protest.

Health concerns mount

Vaidya's appeal comes as concerns grow over Wangchuk's health.

According to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which is spearheading the agitation, Wangchuk has lost more than 7 kg since beginning his hunger strike.

Videos circulating on social media have also shown the activist struggling to stand, with supporters helping him maintain his balance.

Prashant Bhushan reacts

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan responded to Vaidya's message, saying he was keen to see how Aamir Khan would respond to the issue, given that his 3 Idiots character was inspired by Wangchuk.

About the CJP protest

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests began in May–June 2026 as a youth-led movement highlighting alleged irregularities in India's examination system, including controversies surrounding NEET, CUET and other national-level entrance examinations.

Founded by Abhijeet Dipke, the movement gained momentum on social media before organising large demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

The protesters have primarily demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him politically accountable for alleged examination lapses and paper leaks. They have also called for greater transparency, accountability and reforms in the conduct of competitive examinations.

The movement later expanded to several cities, including Bengaluru. In late June, Sonam Wangchuk joined the campaign and began an indefinite hunger strike in support of the protesters' demands, drawing nationwide attention to the issue.