Why Bollywood stayed silent when India's Gen Z spoke out
For decades, Bollywood's biggest stars have been among India's loudest cultural voices, weighing in on everything from social justice and women's rights to religious tensions and national tragedies. But as one of the country's largest student movements swept across India, many of those voices went quiet. Last month, hundreds of thousands of Indians took to the streets as part of the youth-led…
Bollywood stars have traditionally been prominent cultural figures in India, addressing a wide range of social issues, from women's rights to national tragedies. However, their silence during a recent student movement shocked many observers. Last month, hundreds of thousands of young Indians took to the streets as part of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) movement, protesting against leaked examination papers that had caused widespread uncertainty and even suicides among millions of students.
Despite the protests, which faced violent crackdowns from police using baton charges, tear gas, and alleged pellet gun fire, Bollywood's biggest stars largely remained silent. Some only addressed the issue more than a month later, after the movement gained international attention and Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a video promising action.
Critics suggest that the stars' silence may stem from fear of repercussions, online harassment, or boycott campaigns, as well as the industry's growing alignment with the Bharatiya Janata Party government.
Sanjay Singh, a 29-year-old protester, explained that Bollywood's lack of dissenting voices has changed since 2014, when actors became more politically aligned with the current government. Critics argue that the current authoritarian status of India's democracy has made it too risky for celebrities to speak out. They also point out that many Bollywood stars and cricketers feel vulnerable under the right-wing regime and are reluctant to risk their careers.
The protests began in June after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made controversial remarks about unemployed youngsters, leading to the creation of the CJP movement. The movement gained momentum near Jantar Mantar, a historic observatory in Delhi, where students demanded the resignation of the education minister. After nearly 45 days of demonstrations, the National Testing Agency declared the highly competitive entrance exam void due to widespread allegations of paper leaks. This forced students to resit the exam, leading to some committing suicide.
Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protests and went on a 26-day hunger strike in support of the students. Despite enduring harsh weather conditions and police violence, the movement persevered, eventually expanding beyond Delhi with solidarity events across the country. However, Bollywood's silence during this critical moment in Indian history remains a significant concern.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
