Television actress and influencer Jannat Zubair has taken an apparent indirect dig at Bollywood celebrities who publicly voiced solidarity with the ongoing student protests, questioning why their empathy seemed to surface simultaneously — more than a month after the movement began. Her remarks, shared on social media on 24 July, have sparked a fresh conversation about performative activism among public figures.

What Jannat Zubair Said

In a strongly worded post, Zubair wrote: 'It's funny how everyone suddenly found their conscience on the same day. The protests have been going on for over a month. Students and protesters didn't start suffering yesterday. Interesting how empathy arrived all at once.'

She did not name any individual, but the timing of her post — a day after a wave of Bollywood celebrities issued public statements of support — made the target of her remarks clear to many observers.

The Celebrities Who Spoke Out

Kareena Kapoor Khan wrote that she 'can't sit with it any longer' and extended her support to the students. Salman Khan backed the protesters, saying students deserved full credit for conducting a peaceful movement, and urged that the issue not be politicised. He also appealed to social activist Sonam Wangchuk — who had undertaken a fast in solidarity with the students — to end his hunger strike, expressing hope that the government would act against those responsible, and reportedly offering to send food from his own home.

Alia Bhatt stated that the students' 'courage humbles me,' while Varun Dhawan called for accountability and a fair education system. Sara Ali Khan and Ananya Panday were also among those who shared messages of support.

Background: The NEET Protests

The student protests, which have continued for over a month, were triggered by allegations of examination irregularities and NEET paper leaks. Students across the country have been demanding transparency, accountability, and systemic reforms to ensure a fair education system. The movement gained further momentum when Sonam Wangchuk joined the campaign with a solidarity fast. Wangchuk ended his hunger strike on 23 July.

The Performative Activism Debate

Zubair's post taps into a recurring criticism of celebrity culture — that public figures tend to speak up on social issues only when doing so becomes a visible trend, rather than when the issue first demands attention. Critics argue that coordinated, same-day solidarity posts can dilute the urgency of a genuine grassroots movement. Notably, this is not the first time Indian celebrities have faced backlash for the perceived timing of their social media activism.

Whether the wave of celebrity statements will translate into sustained advocacy for the students' demands — or fade as quickly as it arrived — remains to be seen.