Diljit Dosanjh, Shabana Azmi and Other Celebrities Voice Support for Student Protesters, Urge Peaceful Dialogue
New Delhi, July 21: A day after clashes between student protesters and police in the national capital, several prominent actors, filmmakers and musicians have come forward in support of the demonstrators, calling for peaceful dialogue and urging authorities to listen to the concerns of the country’s youth.
As protests over the alleged NEET 2026 paper leak continue, a growing number of celebrities have expressed solidarity with the students, saying that their voices deserve to be heard in a democracy.
Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh, who had earlier maintained distance from the movement, broke his silence on Tuesday by criticising the police action against students. Sharing his views on social media, Diljit described the scenes from the protest as “sad” and said students should not be subjected to such treatment.
Emphasising that the “voice of the people is the voice of God,” the singer appealed to the authorities to engage with students and seriously consider their grievances. He also recalled facing criticism and being labelled “anti-national” for speaking in support of farmers during previous protests, adding that he expected similar reactions for speaking up again.
Actor Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza also voiced their support for the protesters. In a joint message, the couple said the youth are the heartbeat of India’s democracy and their aspirations deserve respect. They urged society and policymakers to listen, support and empower young people whose dreams will shape the country’s future.
Veteran actress Shabana Azmi, who had joined demonstrators at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar before Monday’s march, reiterated that the protest was rooted in the constitutional right to peaceful assembly. Referring to Mahatma Gandhi’s principles, she stressed that the demonstrators had no intention of resorting to violence and were only exercising their democratic rights.
Actor and filmmaker Prakash Raj also stood alongside protesters, supporting their demand for accountability and transparency.
Following Monday’s clashes, several more personalities from the film industry expressed concern over the use of force against protesters. Actress Huma Qureshi said the visuals from the protest left her deeply disturbed and described the scenes of peaceful demonstrators facing police action as heartbreaking.
Film writer Sutapa Sikdar highlighted the struggles faced by many of the protesting students, saying they came from ordinary families with limited resources but carried hopes of a better future. She noted that many had spent years dealing with examination uncertainties and repeated paper leak controversies while continuing to pursue their dreams.
Actor-director Nandita Das said democracy becomes stronger when citizens are free to gather peacefully, express their opinions and engage in constructive dialogue. She stressed that dissent is an essential part of a healthy democratic system and extended her solidarity to those participating in peaceful protests.
Actor Bhumi Pednekar also appealed for calm, saying violence should never become the solution. She urged everyone to focus on the real issue—the future of students affected by shortcomings in the education system—and called for meaningful reforms.
Several other well-known personalities, including Soni Razdan, Zeenat Aman, Abhay Deol, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Omi Vaidya, and Sonakshi Sinha, also expressed support for peaceful demonstrations. Many appealed for dialogue instead of confrontation and encouraged students to continue raising their concerns through non-violent means.
Sonakshi Sinha described India’s youth as the country’s greatest strength and praised the determination shown by students despite the challenges they faced. She encouraged protesters to remain peaceful while continuing to seek accountability and justice.
The growing support from members of the film fraternity comes as student protests over alleged examination irregularities continue to draw national attention. With discussions between protest leaders and the government still ongoing, many hope that meaningful dialogue will help address students’ concerns and restore confidence in the country’s examination system.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets
