Sonam Wangchuk’s Protest Gains Momentum as Bollywood Voices Unite
As environmentalist and education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk continues his indefinite hunger strike over the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, support from the Indian film industry continues to grow. Several actors, filmmakers, lyricists and television personalities have publicly backed Sonam Wangchuk, with many expressing concern over his deteriorating health while urging him to end his fast and continue the fight through other democratic means.
Wednesday marks the 18th day of Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike and the 25th day of the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The protesters are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance examination. Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has remained on an indefinite fast since then, with the organisation also announcing a march to Parliament on July 20.
The environmentalist’s prolonged fast has triggered an emotional response from several well-known names across the entertainment industry, many of whom believe his voice remains essential for the movement.
Shabana Azmi, Soni Razdan, Abhay Deol , Omi Vaidya and Others Rally Behind Sonam Wangchuk
Veteran actor Shabana Azmi was among the latest celebrities to extend support to Sonam Wangchuk. Sharing a widely circulated photograph showing the activist looking visibly weak during the hunger strike, she praised his commitment to standing against injustice and supporting truth. However, Azmi also appealed to him to prioritise his health, saying that the country still needs his leadership and guidance, particularly for students. Stressing that the struggle is a long one, she urged Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike so he could continue leading the movement in the future.
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Actor Soni Razdan echoed similar concerns through an emotional message posted on Instagram. In a heartfelt appeal, she requested Sonam Wangchuk not to sacrifice his health, writing that the country still needs him and urging him to end the fast.
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Actor Abhay Deol also publicly backed Sonam Wangchuk by sharing his photograph from the protest on social media along with a broken-heart emoji. His post received support from fellow actors including Kalki Koechlin and Pooja Batra. Batra separately shared a message urging people not to remain silent, describing Sonam Wangchuk as someone fighting not only for the present generation but also for the future, while encouraging the public to support his campaign in every possible way.
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Actor Omi Vaidya also lent his support to Sonam Wangchuk by sharing a post on Instagram highlighting the activist’s ongoing hunger strike. Expressing solidarity with the movement, the 3 Idiots actor urged people to pay attention to the demands being raised through the protest. His post added to the growing list of film personalities publicly backing Sonam Wangchuk and calling for greater awareness of the issues at the heart of the agitation.
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Television actor Rubina Dilaik also joined the growing chorus by reposting an earlier message shared by Zeenat Aman. Calling Sonam Wangchuk a “real hero,” she appealed for his safety and urged people not to let him continue risking his life for the country’s welfare. Zeenat Aman, meanwhile, had appealed to the government to open a dialogue instead of allowing the situation to escalate further.
Writers and Artists Back Sonam Wangchuk as Protest Enters a Critical Phase
Support for Sonam Wangchuk has extended beyond actors, with several prominent writers and lyricists also voicing concern over the ongoing protest.
National Award-winning lyricist and filmmaker Varun Grover reflected on the challenges faced by peaceful movements, suggesting that many such protests continue despite knowing the odds because they serve as a reminder of resistance against power. His post questioned the response from both the government and society while expressing solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk’s campaign.
Bizarre! Suddenly the pressure is on Sonam Wangchuk to stop fasting and on Rahul Gandhi to support him..
and NOT on the Education Minister to answer!!!— Paushali Sahu (@PaushaliSahu) July 14, 2026
(Varun Grover reposted)
Lyricist Swanand Kirkire shifted attention towards the political response surrounding the agitation. Through a series of social media posts, he questioned why the Congress party had not actively joined the protest despite the students’ demands appearing legitimate. Kirkire argued that the grievances raised by the protesters deserved broader political backing.
Thank you for replying like a true Congressman by understanding my concern as part of a discourse rather than as an anti party stand. Our foremost concern today should be finding a solution to the NEET crisis and securing the future of our students. We can discuss, we can… https://t.co/ObS095PkAy
— Swanand Kirkire (@swanandkirkire) July 14, 2026
Actor Shreya Dhanwanthary also urged Sonam Wangchuk to reconsider his indefinite fast. While acknowledging his peaceful method of protest, she expressed concern that continuing the hunger strike could place his life at greater risk. She wrote that she wished he would end the fast and continue pursuing the cause through other means.
The show of solidarity follows similar messages shared earlier by actors Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Omi Vaidya and Zeenat Aman, indicating that support for Sonam Wangchuk now spans multiple generations of the entertainment industry.
As the protest enters another crucial phase, Sonam Wangchuk has maintained that the movement is intended to secure accountability over the alleged NEET irregularities. Speaking earlier this week, he said it was in the long-term interest of the government to listen to people’s concerns, adding that democracy functions through empathy and compassion rather than rigidity.
With more public figures now joining the campaign, the spotlight on Sonam Wangchuk continues to intensify, even as his supporters increasingly hope that he chooses to safeguard his health while carrying the movement forward.