Aditi Rao Hydari, Sonakshi Sinha, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Imran Khan. Pics via Instagram
As Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike enters day 18, his deteriorating health has left everyone worried. Several celebrities over the past few days have been raising their voice, and extending support to the activist in his fight for the future of students.
Veteran actress Zeenat Aman was among the first to extend her support. She shared a lengthy note calling Wangchuk one of India's greatest minds, urging the government to immediately start a peaceful dialogue with him. "We must not become a society that sits back and watches one of its greatest minds be sacrificed," she wrote.
Sonakshi Sinha also shared a video, and wrote, "Ab dekha nahi jaa raha⦠dil nahi maan rahaâ¦wangchuksworld Sir⦠we cant lose you"
Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah were among the signatories who signed a joint statement supporting the protesters' demands while requesting Wangchuk to end his fast.
Actress Shreya Dhanwanthary hailed Wangchuk's peaceful resistance; however, she also urged him to consider ending the fast before his health suffered irreversible damage.
Actress Swara Bhasker was seen personally reaching Jantar Mantar and meeting Wangchuk and CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke. "The indefatigable Sonam Wangchuk sir is fighting for your children's future. All my solidarity and gratitude," she later wrote on Instagram.
Prakash Raj was also seen visiting Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar, and addressed those participating in the protest. 3 Idioits actor Omi Vaidya made an emotional video appeal linking Wangchuk to the film's character Phunsukh Wangdu, played by Aamir Khan. "I don't want Phunsukh Wangdu to die," Omi said, and later urged viewers to pay attention to Wangchuk's deteriorating health and support him.
Fatima Sana Shaikh took to Instagram to share photographs of Wangchuk, expressing concern over his deteriorating health. "It's now been 19 days! We cannot keep waiting until it's too late to start listening⦠Someone like Sonam Wangchuk, who has given so much to this country, shouldn't have to risk his health just to be heard," she captioned the post.
Aditi Rao Hydari also took to Instagram, sharing a picture of Sonam and wrote, "Political differences shape a nation's politics. Humanity shapes its character. This life is invaluable"
Actor Imran Khan took to Instagram to share a long note about the NEET paper leak issue. He shared a separate post where he posted an animated picture of an army of cockroaches following Mahatma Gandhi. "Standing up for the future wangchuksworld ChaloSansad," he wrote.
Actor Atul Kulkarni even announced that he will be joining Sonam by observing a one-day hunger strike at his home. He shared a video in which he said, "Tomorrow, on July 16, I will be observing a one-day hunger strike from my own home. There are two reasons behind this fast. Firstly, I want to connect with the pain that Sonam ji and his associates are going through. Secondly, I want to request our government to show its sensitivity towards the matter."
Meanwhile, filmmaker and actor Anurag Kashyap also voiced his support for Sonam Wangchuk. Sharing several photos of the activist, Kashyap also posted a long note on his Instagram story, that read, "There was a time when hunger strike had some meaning. People don't go on hunger strike just like that. It's really troubling when the system becomes so indifferent to people's lives. Only a man as empathetic and a believer of truth and justice has the courage to do that. I don't have the courage to do what Sonam Wangchuk is doing. But the silence from the powers to be is deafening to the point that it is proof of their guilt and their murderous intent. I stand with the brave heart that Sonam Wangchuk is."
Soni Razdan also joined the growing list of celebrities and requested Wangchuk to end his strike by saying, "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."
Shweta Tiwari took to Instagram Stories to support Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike, but she clearly distanced herself from CJP. She wrote, "Sonam Wangchuk is fighting for a genuine cause..education and the future of our children. That cause deserves attention, and the government should listen to his concerns seriously. At the same time, I have absolutely no inclination towards CJP. I disagree with the way they are handling this and feel they are using his struggle to push their own agenda. I don't support that approach. My support is for Sonam Wangchuk and the cause he is fighting for..not for any political group or organisation trying to benefit from it."
Bigg Boss 17 fame Ayesha Khan also supported the cause, admitting that she had been unaware of Wangchuk's hunger strike, urging paparazzi and entertainment media to give the issue greater attention. "We are so lost in glamour, beauty and controversies that we often end up being avoidant to the things that actually need our attention," she wrote.
Similarly, veteran actress Kunickaa Sadanand shared a video asking citizens to support those questioning the government. In her video, she stated that democracy does not remain alive through voting but when citizens stand up for one another's rights and refuse to remain indifferent when voices demanding truth and justice are silenced.
TV actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee also extended her support by resharing a video on her Instagram Stories, stating that the activist was not asking for anything unreasonable and was merely asking for accountability from the government. The post also questioned the silence of several prominent names from the film industry.
Rubina Dilaik took to her Stories to reshare Zeenat Aman's statement and called Wangchuk a "real hero." "He is a real hero. Don't let him die fighting for our country's own good," she wrote.
