India’s Gen Z Challenges the Conscience of Bollywood Artists Amid Student Protests

September 9, Kathmandu — Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah released an emotional and impassioned video message on social media on July 21. The message came in response to the brutal police crackdown on students during the Parliament March organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) from Jantar Mantar on July 20. In his video, Shah expressed support for the students’ protest demanding education reform. In an interview with The Wire, when asked why prominent Bollywood actors remain silent on the student protests and police brutality, Shah sharply criticized them. “They will only speak when their conscience is damaged,” he said, “There is a saying— a dog with a bone in its mouth cannot bark; only after losing the bone or breaking a tooth does it bark.”
Expressing solidarity with the students, Shah strongly condemned the repression they faced. He stated, “I want to say two things. When an ignorant person leads the country, he will make the country as ignorant, irrational, incapable, and cruel as himself. Though I learned acting at the National School of Drama and Film and Television Institute of India, I have learned the most from the students I tried to teach.” He revealed that the crackdown stirred anger and sorrow within him.
“I hold deep empathy for them. My heart is boiling with pain,” he said, “The atrocities against our youth remind me of agents in America who would walk around covering their mouths. Think about your children. One day, you too will face the consequences of your actions.”
Encouraging students not to lose hope, Shah reaffirmed his trust in the youth, which has only grown stronger. He urged them to keep fighting for their rights and warned that the repression by the state would never be forgotten.
Last month, the Cockroach Janata Party initiated a march from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to Parliament Street. The protest intensified following educationist and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike. On July 20, as the monsoon session of Parliament began, students and young people from across the country gathered in New Delhi and attempted to march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament. Police used force to stop the march, and widely circulated social media footage of the incident led to severe criticism of the government and police. Protesters demanded dialogue with the central government and accountability for irregularities in the education system. Key demands included the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, triggered by exam paper leaks and other malpractices.
Alongside the movement’s expansion, Bollywood actors began voicing their support. Kareena Kapoor Khan posted a message on Instagram backing the students, saying she could no longer remain silent after thinking about the issue for several days. “So many young people are raising their voices. Their voice cannot be ignored,” she wrote. Kareena emphasized that students deserve a fair and reliable education system. “This is not a big demand—it is a minimum expectation,” she added. “When a generation speaks with a united voice, it is our duty to listen.”
Varun Dhawan called students the future of the country and backed the protests. “Students are the future of our nation. When a student’s dream is shattered, it’s not just an individual loss but a loss for the entire family,” he wrote. “When the system fails, they have the right to question it. Their voices must be heard, protected, and their problems solved seriously.” He urged officials to impartially and transparently resolve student concerns.
Sara Ali Khan described the student protests as an expression of true patriotism. “Our students are our future, and the country’s future is tied to theirs,” she stated. “Their determination moves me emotionally. True patriotism can arise from faith and courage.” Ananya Panday challenged traditional views of Generation Z. “Gen Z was labeled in various ways, many negative,” she said. “But this generation never stops questioning. They’re only asking for minimal fairness. This is not disobedience but hope and belief—change starts here.”
Former actress and writer Twinkle Khanna shared photos from protests in Delhi and Mumbai, praising the courage of the youth. “Our young people have the bravery to dissent. They show resilience facing tear gas and lathi charges,” she said. “I’m proud they are citizens of this country, but saddened they have to take to the streets.”
Prior to the march, senior actress Shabana Azmi and actor/director Prakash Raj showed solidarity with protesters at Jantar Mantar. Shabana emphasized the movement as a peaceful exercise of constitutional rights. “We have all come for a peaceful protest, following Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of nonviolent opposition. Our struggle is not intended to incite violence,” she stated.
Prakash Raj, Kunal Kamra, and Swara Bhasker directly participated in the Jantar Mantar demonstrations. Prakash Raj went to the hunger strike site carrying the Constitution, emphasizing the need to hold the government accountable. Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh condemned the police baton charge and urged authorities to listen to student demands.
South Indian actor Kamal Haasan also strongly criticized the repression. Hollywood actor John Cusack expressed solidarity with Indian students on social media. Bollywood artists Imran Khan, Alaya F, rapper Raftaar, and singer Anuv Jain attended a student solidarity rally in Mumbai.
However, not all Bollywood artists endorsed the protests. Singer Sonu Nigam faced social media criticism after refusing to comment on the student movement. When journalists asked for his response, he simply said, “Enough for now,” and ended the conversation. The video of this interaction went viral, drawing mixed reactions. Some argued not all public figures must comment on every issue, while others criticized Sonu’s silence.
There was discussion about whether Bollywood’s “King Khan” Shah Rukh Khan would comment on the protests. Some fake posts circulated on social media in his name, but no such messages appeared on his official accounts. Actor Aamir Khan also faced criticism for his silence. Known for being vocal on social issues, Aamir’s quietness on this protest raised questions.
Leading actors like Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, and Deepika Padukone have yet to publicly respond, sparking debate across social media.
Writer and social activist Arundhati Roy also visited Jantar Mantar. In her essay, “Cockroach Democracy: Unarmed and Dangerous,” she argued that the movement goes beyond demands for the education minister’s resignation. She sees it as an expression of accumulated anger among youth addressing issues from civil rights to religious, caste discrimination, and the state of democratic institutions.
Roy noted that although the protest initially called only for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, large demonstrations on July 20 expanded its political significance. The fearless presence and resistance of students and youth challenge longstanding societal fears, she wrote. People from Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist backgrounds, and various castes, classes, and communities cooperating on the streets represent an imagined ideal of India.
Yet, she cautioned that sustaining such autonomous movements to achieve permanent political change is challenging. Without organized political efforts, anger tends to dissipate over time. Roy asserted it is inappropriate to directly compare this protest to previous mass movements in India.
She described the Cockroach Janata Party’s movement as a unique political event born of its time. The issues raised go beyond the education minister or exam irregularities to encompass civil rights, democratic institutions, religion, caste discrimination, the electoral system, and state relations. While enthusiastic about the youth movement, Roy remains mindful of potential government retaliation.
Discussing the July 20 incident when security personnel evacuated Prime Minister Narendra Modi to safety on Parliament Street, Roy wrote, “The day may come when the Prime Minister must flee politically after fleeing physically.” However, she warned, “This power will not relinquish control easily. The responsibility to meaningfully transform the hopes given by the movement into political change now lies not just with them but with the entire society.”