'The last few days have broken my heart': From Alia Bhatt to Salman Khan, every Bollywood star backing the student protests

Dubai: The protests, organised under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, began over repeated leaks of the NEET medical entrance exam and have grown into a broader movement demanding education reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Since police used lathi charges and tear gas against marchers on 20 July, Bollywood's response has snowballed daily, so treat this as a live snapshot.

Stars who joined protests in person

Shabana Azmi, who marched alongside Prakash Raj, addressed the media directly at the site. "All of us who are here have come for a peaceful protest, to exercise the right granted to us by our country's constitution," she said. "Mahatma Gandhi taught us how to conduct a peaceful protest, and we have come here on that very foundation." When asked why more celebrities hadn't shown up, she pushed back sharply: "You are only worried about the fact that Bollywood celebrities are not present at the march. You don't worry about the absence of industrialists, all the businessmen."

Huma Qureshi and her brother Saqib Saleem visited Jantar Mantar in the early hours of Thursday. Huma said watching peaceful protesters allegedly met with brute force had left her deeply saddened. Amol Parashar attended the Chalo Sansad march quietly, without telling anyone beforehand, later writing that he stood among students "as nothing but a fellow citizen."

Imran Khan took part in a solidarity march in Mumbai, arguing artists shouldn't separate their work from their convictions. Actor Ayesha Khan says she was detained by Mumbai Police en route to a solidarity protest, later writing in response to critics: "I would rather lose my career than lose my spine."

Stars who backed Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike

Preity Zinta wrote directly to activist Sonam Wangchuk on X: "I hope our govt starts a meaningful dialogue with Sonam Wangchuk and the student bodies so his health does not deteriorate any further! Please end your fast Sonam. Your health is as important as this fight." She followed up a day later urging that the movement not be "hijacked" by outside interests.

Aamir Khan, responding to renewed claims that his 3 Idiots character was based on Wangchuk, called the comparison "a misconception" but added: "The work Mr Sonam is doing is truly commendable. He doesn't have to be based on a character of 3 Idiots for us to respect him." He said he was "very concerned" for Wangchuk's health and hoped he'd end his fast.

Stars who spoke out on social media

Alia Bhatt wrote: "The last few days have broken my heart and then mended it, again and again, with hope. Behind every student standing their ground is a dream, a family's hope, a journey of countless sacrifices."

Salman Khan shared a childhood photo of himself, writing: "It was such a peaceful movement, feel so sad that it had to take a violent turn. My heart goes out to the students and their families who were hurt."

Sonakshi Sinha posted images of injured protesters with the caption: "20th July, bohot logon ki haddiyaan tooti aur ek poore desh ka dil toota. Yaad rakhna," roughly translating to many people's bones were broken and an entire nation's heart broke that day, remember that.

Sara Ali Khan wrote: "Our students are our future and their future tugs at the very heart of our nation. Their resolve burns like a quiet, unquenchable flame that brings tears to my eyes, reminding us that true patriotism beats in the brave hearts of those who dare to stand up for what they believe in... As an optimistic patriot, I have immense faith that our government will deliver justice."

Ananya Panday wrote: "Gen Z has always been labelled... not all of them have been kind. But maybe this moment is reminding us who this generation really is... They're not asking for shortcuts. They're asking for fairness to be the bare minimum, not the exception. Questioning isn't disrespect. Speaking up isn't rebellion. It's hope."

Kareena Kapoor wrote: "The voices of so many young people asking to be heard are impossible to ignore... and they shouldn't be... They deserve a system they can trust, where merit is real, effort is rewarded, and every child starts on equal footing. That isn't a lot to ask. It's the bare minimum... They are not preparing for tomorrow. They are tomorrow."

Varun Dhawan wrote: "Students are the future of our country. When a student's dream is crushed, it's not just one dream that's lost; it's the dream of an entire family... I appeal to the authorities to engage with these concerns and work towards a fair, transparent, and meaningful resolution that ensures accountability."

Twinkle Khanna shared images from the Delhi and Mumbai protests, including one of Rhiya Ahir, a 27-year-old model who stood in front of a police van carrying detained protesters. She wrote: "Proud to belong to a country where our young people still have the courage to dissent, to push back, to brave tear gas and batons. The sad part is that they have to."

Naseeruddin Shah, visibly emotional in a video message, said his heart felt heavy and that he was boiling with anger watching the cruelty shown toward the students.

Diljit Dosanjh said students shouldn't have been treated the way they were, and referencing the backlash he faced during the farmers' protests, said he expected to be called "anti-national" again for speaking up. Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh issued a joint statement saying young voices deserved to be heard "loud, clear, and without fear," calling students the heartbeat of democracy.

Soha Ali Khan wrote that "the future belongs to the young," wishing every young person the freedom to question and the space to protest peacefully.

Actress Revathy Asha drew a sharper historical comparison, writing that police "unleashing violence… on orders given by their seniors" reminded her of British colonial-era violence during India's freedom struggle. Rohit Saraf called the day "gut-wrenching" but said he hoped it would be remembered for the students' courage rather than the violence.

Sonakshi Sinha, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Soha Ali Khan, Rohit Saraf, Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh, Pooja Bhatt, Aditi Rao Hydari, Nehal Chudasama, Bhumi Pednekar, Dia Mirza, Sonam Bajwa, Sonu Sood, Vishal Dadlani, Javed Akhtar, Rajkummar Rao, Anupam Kher, Anurag Kashyap, R. Madhavan, Swara Bhasker, Vir Das, Revathy Asha, Thalapathy Vijay and Chinmayi Sripada have all voiced support, ranging from Instagram notes urging dialogue to direct messages of solidarity with the students.

A more critical or mixed reaction

Not every reaction has backed the protesters. Rupali Ganguly wrote that "those who attack police cannot be called students," while Devoleena Bhattacharjee questioned the legitimacy of the movement itself. Dulquer Salmaan called the violence "gut-wrenching" while raising a separate concern in the same breath.

Who's still notably quiet

Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn had not issued public statements as of the most recent reporting, though given how fast this list keeps shifting, that could change quickly.