Actor Imran Khan has joined the growing list of Bollywood celebrities supporting the CJP-led student protests over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak, taking part in a solidarity march in Mumbai and arguing that artists should never separate their work from their convictions, says Hindustan Times.
During the protest, Imran was asked how he viewed actors who believe that art should remain apolitical.
The actor responded by saying that meaningful art inevitably reflects the creator’s perspective.
“True art is going to have an individual artist’s point of view embedded within it. As part of our human nature, we are going to have opinions and perspectives. If you can’t stand by your opinions and if you do not pour your own heart into your art, your art has no value.”
The actor had already voiced his support for the student movement a day earlier through an emotional social media post condemning the alleged use of force against protesters.
“Something broke in me today,” he wrote, referring to videos showing police action during the demonstrations.
Imran criticised what he described as a system that had failed students, adding that they deserved to be heard rather than met with violence.
“These students worked hard, only to be failed by the system. These people asked to be heard, only to be met with silence.”
Questioning the treatment of the protesters, he added:
“Are these not the children of Mother India? If not them, for whom do we build, and whose future do we claim to protect?”
The CJP-led movement began after the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and has since expanded into a nationwide campaign demanding education reforms, greater accountability over examination irregularities and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The protests intensified earlier this week during the “Chalo Sansad” march, when students attempted to march from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar towards Parliament.
The demonstration turned confrontational after police stopped the procession, with reports of a lathi charge and tear gas being used to disperse the crowd.
Imran’s remarks come amid growing support from the entertainment industry.
Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt, Diljit Dosanjh, Shabana Azmi, Prakash Raj, Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh, Sonu Sood, Vir Das, Dia Mirza and several other film personalities have publicly backed the students or called for dialogue and reforms.
Meanwhile, BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut has continued to support the central government’s position on the issue.
