Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike: Soni Razdan, Bollywood rally as health worsens
Synopsis
Sonam Wangchuk has lost 8.5 kg in under three weeks of fasting at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak controversy — and now Bollywood, led by Soni Razdan and Shabana Azmi, is publicly begging him to stop. The rare unity of India's film fraternity around a civic protest signals just how far this issue has cut through.
Key Takeaways
Soni Razdan appealed to Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday via Instagram to end his hunger strike.
Wangchuk has been fasting at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi since 28 June 2026 , reportedly losing 8.5 kilograms .
Doctors have raised concerns over muscle loss and his declining physical condition.
The protest demands the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for families affected by the NEET paper leak .
Actors including Shabana Azmi , Naseeruddin Shah , Prakash Raj , and Zeenat Aman have also extended public support to Wangchuk.
Actress Soni Razdan has publicly appealed to climate activist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike, expressing alarm over his rapidly deteriorating health. Wangchuk has been fasting at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi since 28 June 2026, demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in the national examination system, including the NEET paper leak controversy.
Soni Razdan's Appeal
On Wednesday, Razdan — mother of actress Alia Bhatt — took to her Instagram handle to share a heartfelt note addressed to Wangchuk. The note read: 'Dear Sonam Wangchuk, For your health we all do pray, please do not leave us in this way, please live to fight another day. Please stay. Please end your fast today.' Her caption simply stated: 'We need you. Don't leave us @wangchuksworld.'
Bollywood Voices Grow Louder
Razdan joins a growing chorus of film personalities who have urged Wangchuk to preserve his health for the larger fight ahead. Veteran actress Shabana Azmi shared an emotional appeal on Instagram, writing in Hindi: 'Our country needs people like you. You are standing against injustice and standing up for the truth, and we are proud of you. Therefore, we humbly request you to end your fast, because your guidance and support inspire and encourage our students. This struggle has a long road ahead, and it is important for you to remain healthy so that you can continue to lead and guide. We stand with you.'
Others who have extended solidarity include actors Zeenat Aman, Prakash Raj, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Abhay Deol, and Omi Vaidya, reflecting a rare cross-generational mobilisation within the film industry around a civic cause.
Wangchuk's Condition and the Protest's Demands
According to reports, Wangchuk has lost approximately 8.5 kilograms since commencing his fast on 28 June 2026 — now entering its third week. Doctors have flagged concerns over muscle loss and a measurably declining physical condition. The protest at Jantar Mantar centres on demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for families affected by alleged examination-related irregularities, including the widely reported NEET paper leak.
Background: The NEET Controversy
The NEET paper leak controversy triggered widespread outrage across India, with students and parents alleging that the integrity of the national medical entrance examination had been compromised. Wangchuk, best known internationally as the inspiration behind the film 3 Idiots, has used his public standing to amplify the protest's reach. This is not his first high-profile fast — he has previously undertaken hunger strikes over Ladakh's statehood and environmental concerns, making him a recurring figure in India's civil society landscape.
What Happens Next
With Wangchuk's health deteriorating and no reported breakthrough in negotiations with the government, pressure on authorities is mounting. The convergence of celebrity voices and medical concern could force the issue into sharper political focus in the days ahead.
Point of View
But it also risks reducing a structural policy failure — the NEET paper leak — into a celebrity-driven narrative. The core demand, accountability over examination integrity, has not been addressed by the government. Wangchuk's deteriorating health may generate sympathy cycles on social media, but without a concrete government response, the protest risks becoming a humanitarian story rather than a policy reckoning. The Education Ministry's silence in the face of both medical alarm and celebrity pressure is itself a political signal worth scrutinising.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Sonam Wangchuk on a hunger strike?
Sonam Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi since 28 June 2026, protesting alleged irregularities in India's national examination system, including the NEET paper leak controversy. He is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for affected students and families.
How is Sonam Wangchuk's health currently?
According to reports, Wangchuk has lost approximately 8.5 kilograms since beginning his fast. Doctors have expressed concern over muscle loss and his overall declining physical condition as the strike enters its third week.
Who is Soni Razdan and why did she appeal to Wangchuk?
Soni Razdan is a veteran Bollywood actress and the mother of actress Alia Bhatt. She appealed to Wangchuk on Wednesday via Instagram, urging him to end his fast out of concern for his health, joining several other film industry personalities who have voiced similar appeals.
Which other celebrities have supported Sonam Wangchuk?
Actors Shabana Azmi, Zeenat Aman, Prakash Raj, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Abhay Deol, and Omi Vaidya have all publicly expressed solidarity with Wangchuk and urged him to end his hunger strike.
What is the NEET paper leak controversy?
The NEET paper leak controversy refers to allegations that the national medical entrance examination was compromised, with question papers reportedly leaked ahead of the exam. The controversy triggered widespread protests across India, with students and families demanding accountability and systemic reform of the examination process.
