The protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which escalated with student protests at the Jamia Milia University in New Delhi, as well as cities across India, saw support incoming from several Hindi film actors, actresses and filmmaker. Whether it was director Mahesh Bhatt taking part in a protest meeting to Taapsee Pannu and Ali Fazal taking to social media to speak up about the issue, the protests have certainly caught their eye.
The protests have particularly proved violent at the Jamia Milia University, with the police entering the campus, and launching into a street fight with the students.
Taapsee Pannu shared a video of a student on the campus speaking of her reason for standing up and opposing the police action. Taapsee wrote 'Wonder if this is a start or the end. Whatever it is, this is surely writing new rules of the land and those who don’t fit in can very well see the consequences.'
Wonder if this is a start or the end. Whatever it is, this is surely writing new rules of the land and those who don’t fit in can very well see the consequences.
— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) December 16, 2019
This video breaks heart n hopes all together. Irreversible damage,and I’m not talking about just the life n property https://t.co/QGaZYpDCR6
Article 15 (2015) director Anubhav Sinha was quite unsparing in his call to support the students, calling on 'Icons' from all fields to step out in support. He wrote 'Dear Icons! Films. Sports. Arts. Politics. Literature. Etc. We chose what we chose because most of us didn’t want to be Government servants.'
Dear Icons! Films. Sports. Arts. Politics. Literature. Etc. We chose what we chose because most of us didn’t want to be Government servants. Guess what.... you all now are GOVERNMENT SERVANTS!!! Bwahahaha
— Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) December 16, 2019
Actress Swara Bhasker was also among the many who criticised the Delhi police' action against the protesting students.
Absolutely shameful conduct by @DelhiPolice https://t.co/xUFxzJtzen
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) December 15, 2019
Article 15 actress Sayani Gupta and Sacred Games actress Kubbra Sait also questioned the actions of the Delhi police and the government.
Just watch this guys. If your heart doesn't break into thousand pieces, there is something wrong with your upbringing. Welcome to a dead life. https://t.co/70Fp5qkbs4
— Sayani Gupta (@sayanigupta) December 16, 2019
If this voice and plea doesn’t shatter your inner demons. I don’t know what will. Is the end here? Or can we still save ourselves.
— Kubbra Sait (@KubbraSait) December 16, 2019
Where is the Prime Minister? The silence is deafening. https://t.co/aVhwO2RnqC
Composer Vishal Dadlani has never minced words against the government, and was again scathing on the nature of the violence unleashed on the protestors.
अब भी जिसका खून न खौला,
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) December 16, 2019
खून नही वो पानी है.
Stand peacefully against the #CAB now. Don't let them rip India apart.
Another voice of anger came from Anurag Kashyap. The director recently gave an interview to the online portal The Quint saying, "My instant reaction to it is why and how and it’s not going to stop. We have voted for it, we should keep getting it. We will keep getting it. I’ve like literally switched off, I do not endorse anything. Either you get into it the whole hog or just let it be."
However, post the violent street fight between the police and the students, the director seemed to have changed his tack. He wrote on his social media saying, 'This has gone too far...can't stay silent any longer...'
This has gone too far.. can’t stay silent any longer . This government is clearly fascist .. and it makes me angry to see voices that can actually make a difference stay quiet ..
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) December 16, 2019
Actress-director Pooja Bhatt seemed to share the same sentiments as she wrote a similar post on her handle.
To speak with silence when we should protest is what makes cowards out of men. India is burning. One can’t be mute anymore.
— Pooja Bhatt (@PoojaB1972) December 16, 2019
Bhatt's father, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt was part of a protest meet in Mumbai against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and posted a video explaining his stand against it.
We the people of India , having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.( At Ambedkar’s abode . After reading the Preamble of our Constitution.) @ShashiTharoor @JhaSanjay @mathewmantony pic.twitter.com/OsFoagg3PI
— Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) December 15, 2019
While there has been a steady silence from the top echelons of the industry, there is a growing number of actors, actresses and filmmakers stepping out in support of the students.
The only superstar to be dragged into conversation has been Akshay Kumar, who 'accidentally' liked a tweet calling the police action a 'freedom' for the Jamia Milia University. The actor soon put out a tweet to apologise for it.
Regarding the ‘like’ on the tweet of Jamia Milia students, it was by mistake. I was scrolling and accidentally it must have been pressed and when I realised I immediately unliked it as In no way do I support such acts.
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) December 16, 2019
Ali Fazal, Avinash Tiwary, Richa Chadha and Siddharth were among the many speaking up.
Its funny,i felt hey ali lets play it safe all these years. And now i cant. a lot of my colleagues may not speak up at all.But i pray we all realise there is no job no career above humanity. socho, aur time kam hai toh act fast.irrespective of your political ideologies right now
— Ali Fazal M / میر علی فضل / अली (@alifazal9) December 16, 2019
"Those creating violence can be identified by their clothes itself!"https://t.co/Rozh7m6bs8
— Avinash Tiwary (@avinashtiw85) December 16, 2019
An alumnus of the university, director Onir left people in no doubt about his support to the students.
Proud alumni of @JUFET . #studentsForSecularism #StudentsProtest https://t.co/cNU65roF3a
— Onir (@IamOnir) December 16, 2019
Chhapaak (2020) actor Vikrant Massey also joined the growing movement as he shared a picture calling it the 'fight to regain the lost sanity of this country.'
This is a picture of students from #JamiaMilia holding photos of #Ambedkar & #Gandhi opposing the #CAA2019
— Vikrant Massey (@masseysahib) December 15, 2019
We haven’t forgotten our roots.
And we will fight to regain the lost sanity of this proud country 🇮🇳 #StandWithJamia #Delhiviolence pic.twitter.com/gOCh0B7Cnw