Celebrities Rally Behind Students Amid NEET Exam Leak Protests
Support from Bollywood Stars
A growing number of celebrities are voicing their support for students protesting the NEET exam leak. Following the expressions of concern from actors like Salman Khan, Kamal Haasan, Alia Bhatt, and Varun Dhawan, actress Kareena Kapoor and former actress Twinkle Khanna have also shared their perspectives on social media. Kareena emphasized that she could not overlook the cries of the youth, while Twinkle expressed pride in being part of a nation that allows its young citizens to express their opinions. Since July 20, students and demonstrators have been actively marching in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, demanding accountability regarding the leaked exam papers.
Twinkle Khanna's Perspective on the Protests
Twinkle Khanna on the student protests
On her Instagram, Twinkle, who is married to actor Akshay Kumar, posted several black-and-white images of young protesters, including courageous women leading the demonstrations. One photo depicted a young woman standing defiantly in front of a police van to prevent it from moving, while another showed a young woman protecting male protesters.
Twinkle, known for her books The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad and Mrs Funnybones Returns, remarked, "I am proud to belong to a country where our youth still possess the courage to dissent, to resist, and to face tear gas and batons. It is unfortunate that they have to do so." She is a mother to a 23-year-old son, Aarav, and a 13-year-old daughter, Nitara.
Kareena Kapoor Voices Support for Youth
Kareena Kapoor stands with young people
Bollywood star Kareena, known for her role in Crew, shared her thoughts on Instagram, stating that she had been contemplating the situation for several days but could no longer remain silent. She expressed, "The voices of countless young individuals demanding to be heard are impossible to ignore... and they absolutely should be."
The actress, who is a mother to young sons Taimur and Jehangir with her husband, actor Saif Ali Khan, highlighted the significance of education in a child's life, noting how it instills confidence and hope. She added, "Education is only effective if children believe in it. They begin to lose that belief when they suspect that honesty, hard work, and merit do not truly matter." Earlier, Kareena's stepdaughter Sara Ali Khan shared Rabindranath Tagore's poem "Where the Mind is Without Fear" on her Instagram Stories, a piece written prior to India's independence.