Mumbai: Actor Alia Bhatt has joined a growing chorus of Bollywood A-lister, voicing solidarity with nationwide student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Delhi.
Demanding systemic educational reforms, greater transparency, and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following alleged irregularities and paper leaks in exams such as NEET, the demonstrations at Jantar Mantar escalated earlier this week when students faced police lathi-charges and tear gas during a march toward Parliament.
Taking to her Instagram handle on Thursday, Bhatt shared an emotional note reflecting on the movement and praising the resilience of the young demonstrators. “The last few days have broken my heart and then mended it, again and again, with hope,” the 33-year-old actress wrote. “Behind every student standing their ground is a dream, a family’s hope, a journey of countless sacrifices. They represent not just themselves but everyone who has supported them, while creating a better path for those who will come after them.”
The Alpha star further urged society and political leaders to listen to the country’s youth. “Their courage humbles me. Their resolve is a mirror held up to all of us, asking whether we are truly listening to the very people who will inherit and shape this country’s tomorrow. For the students. By the students. The future is theirs. Jai Hind,” she concluded.
Alia’s statement comes amidst intensifying online scrutiny of public figures, as social media users have actively called out film industry personalities for remaining silent on critical youth-centric issues. Her message closely follows a statement from superstar Salman Khan, who posted a reflective throwback photograph of his student days and described paper leaks as a “very serious issue”. While applauding the courage, dedication, and peaceful intent of the students, the actor cautioned against external forces, emphasising that the movement should remain focused strictly on educational reforms rather than being “hijacked politically.”
Also Read: Protests Over NEET Paper Leak Continue At Jantar Mantar, Salman Khan Supports CJP Stir
Solidarity with the student movement has expanded rapidly across the film fraternity over recent days. Actor Huma Qureshi and her brother, Saqib Saleem, visited Jantar Mantar protest ground to stand alongside the demonstrators. They join a broad coalition of prominent artistes, actors, and directors, including Rajkummar Rao, Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Prakash Raj, Anupam Kher, Javed Akhtar, Swara Bhasker, Anurag Kashyap, Imran Khan, Pratibha Ranta, Arijit Singh, Hanumankind, Revathy, and Tovino Thomas, who have all publicly advocated for the students’ right to demand a fair, secure, and transparent educational framework.