Hundreds of thousands of young Indians have taken to the streets as part of a youth movement calling itself the Cockroach Janata party (CJP), demanding accountability over exam paper leaks. The movement has created an unprecedented challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, resulting in the first time in the 12 years of Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) power that one of Modi’s most loyal ministers was forced to resign due to public pressure, according to reports from theguardian.com.
Celebrity Responses and Public Criticism
Indian celebrities and Bollywood stars have faced fierce criticism for remaining silent or offering non-committal remarks while students faced police brutality. On Monday, peaceful protests were met with teargas, batons, and allegedly pellet guns. Protesters have expressed frustration that celebrities often comment on global injustices but ignore domestic grievances, even as their own fanbases are targeted by police.
Several high-profile figures have drawn specific backlash:
- Salman Khan: The Bollywood superstar posted on X, telling students to return home so as not to make their parents worry, while insisting that Modi had the situation under control.
- Anupam Kher: While stating he understood the “restlessness and anger” of the students, Kher warned against “political opportunists” and those with their “own agenda” taking over the movement, echoing sentiments from BJP ministers.
- Sachin Tendulkar: The cricketer posted a statement on X asserting that a culture must be created where “merit wins,” “honesty is encouraged,” and “hard work is rewarded.”
- Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma: The cricketing star and actor were trolled for lacking a “spine” regarding the issue.
Some public figures have taken a more critical stance. Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, 76, was damning of the silence within Bollywood. Actor Shabana Azmi traveled from Mumbai to Delhi to join the protests, asking, Why can’t they listen to them?
and stating that the spirit of the youth should be built up rather than crushed.
Controversies Surrounding Aamir Khan and Sonam Wangchuk
The protests have been linked to activist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk, who conducted a 26-day hunger strike in support of the Cockroach movement. After Wangchuk’s fast was disrupted and he was moved to a hospital, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke took over the fast at Jantar Mantar in the National Capital.
Amidst this momentum, actor and filmmaker Aamir Khan faced criticism after claiming his 2009 film Three Idiots was not based on Wangchuk, despite this being accepted film-lore for over 15 years. Observers suggested this was an attempt by Khan to distance his career from the protests. Khan has a history of controversy regarding political speech; in 2015, he was viciously trolled after stating his wife felt unsafe in India amid the lynching of Muslims.
Regional Silence and Industry Pressures
The backlash has extended to Telugu celebrities, with growing demands for them to break their silence in support of the youth. While some smaller stars have spoken, major Telugu celebrities have remained silent. This caution is attributed to the fact that many big stars are politically connected to ruling parties and that the public in Telugu states is generally not as deeply involved in the NEET controversy.
Industry pressures also play a role in the silence of the elite. Influencer Alexander Balakrishnan, 29, noted that celebrities may fear damaging their careers through the loss of endorsements and contracts. He argued that while some are reluctant to antagonize the government, the most famous stars possess a level of fame that provides protection, yet they still have not spoken.
Summary of Key Figure Stances
| Person | Stance/Action |
|---|---|
| Shabana Azmi | Traveled to Delhi to participate in protests |
| Naseeruddin Shah | Criticized the silence of the Bollywood industry |
| Salman Khan | Urged students to go home; supported Modi’s control of the situation |
| Anupam Kher | Warned of “political opportunists” within the movement |
| Aamir Khan | Denied Three Idiots was based on Sonam Wangchuk |
As of July 23, 2026, further developments include actress Shweta Tiwari calling for the resignation of the Punjab education minister following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, as reported by thehawk.in. Conversely, Isha Koppikar stated that it is not the job of celebrities to raise their voice on every issue during the Delhi protests.
