Abhirami joins NEET protest chorus, says 'can't stop thinking about Jantar Mantar'
Synopsis
Actress Abhirami's emotional social media post — asking 'what if it was my child?' — puts a human face on the NEET-UG protest crisis at Jantar Mantar. With South Indian celebrities amplifying student voices and demonstrations spreading to multiple states despite a police lathicharge, the pressure on the Centre over examination irregularities is building fast.
Key Takeaways
Actress Abhirami publicly backed the Jantar Mantar student protests on 22 July , saying she 'can't stop thinking' about what is happening there.
She said students 'played by the rules and got cheated,' and were met with 'lathis and silence' when they protested peacefully.
Tamil actor Aegan was among the first South Indian film personalities to back the protests, posting on X and urging the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to speak up.
Protesters — including supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) — were lathicharged by police while marching toward Parliament demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over NEET-UG paper leaks.
The agitation has continued despite the crackdown and has spread to several states across India.
Tamil and Malayalam film actress Abhirami has become the latest South Indian celebrity to publicly back the ongoing student demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, saying she cannot stop thinking about what is unfolding there. Her statement, shared across her social media timelines on 22 July, adds to a growing wave of solidarity from the South Indian film fraternity toward students protesting against recurring examination irregularities, including the NEET-UG paper leak controversy.
What Abhirami Said
In an emotionally charged post, Abhirami wrote: 'I can't stop thinking about what's happening at Jantar Mantar. Seeing young people standing in the heat, just asking to be heard. I keep thinking: what if it was my child? They studied for years. Played by the rules. And got cheated.'
She further added: 'Then went to Delhi to say so, peacefully. And were met with lathis and silence.' Concluding her message, the actress said: 'I don't have all the answers. But I know I want my child to grow up believing that showing up matters. To everyone standing there right now — I see you.'
South Indian Film Industry Rallies Behind Protesters
Abhirami is not alone. Several actors from South Indian film industries have voiced their support for the student agitation in New Delhi. Tamil actor Aegan was among the first to speak out, posting on X (formerly Twitter): 'NEET is about the future of lakhs of students, not politics. The voices of students protesting in Delhi deserve to be heard with seriousness, transparency, and accountability. It's time for action, not excuses.'
Aegan also directly appealed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, writing: 'Sir Please Voice Out For Students,' urging political leadership to amplify the students' demands.
Background: The Jantar Mantar Protests
The protests stem from widespread anger over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination, including reported paper leaks. Thousands of supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and students marched from Jantar Mantar toward Parliament on Monday, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Police resorted to a lathicharge on the marching crowd, according to reports.
Despite the crackdown, the protest has continued and reportedly gained momentum, with student demonstrations spreading across several states. The agitation reflects a broader crisis of confidence in the national medical entrance examination system.
Why Celebrity Voices Matter
The intervention of South Indian film personalities carries significant reach, given their massive social media followings and influence among younger audiences — the very demographic most directly affected by the NEET controversy. This is not the first time the film fraternity has used its platform to amplify student grievances; similar patterns were seen during earlier education-related protests in India.
With the protests showing no sign of abating, pressure on the Centre to address examination reform demands is likely to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
Not a solution — and it is worth noting how quickly South Indian film voices have moved while mainstream political opposition has been more measured. The NEET-UG crisis is fundamentally an institutional failure: a high-stakes national exam that has now become synonymous with leaks and irregularities. The lathicharge on peaceful marchers adds a civil-liberties dimension that risks widening the protest beyond its original education-reform scope. If the Centre does not offer a credible accountability framework soon, it may find itself managing a much larger political fire.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is actress Abhirami speaking about the Jantar Mantar protests?
Abhirami posted on social media expressing solidarity with students protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi over alleged NEET-UG examination irregularities, including paper leaks. She said she could not stop thinking about young people 'who played by the rules and got cheated.'
What are the Jantar Mantar protests about?
The protests are primarily against alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG medical entrance examination, including reported paper leaks. Demonstrators have demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and greater transparency and accountability in the examination system.
What happened when protesters marched toward Parliament?
Police lathicharged thousands of protesters — including supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and students — who marched from Jantar Mantar toward Parliament on Monday. Despite the crackdown, the protest has continued and spread to several states.
Which other South Indian celebrities have supported the NEET protesters?
Tamil actor Aegan was among the first South Indian film personalities to back the protests, posting on X calling for seriousness, transparency, and accountability on the NEET issue. He also urged the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to voice support for the students.
Who is the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) mentioned in the protest?
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) is a political group whose supporters joined students in the Jantar Mantar march toward Parliament demanding accountability over NEET-UG paper leaks. The protest has drawn participants from multiple political and student organisations.
