Bhumi Pednekar’s Acting Teacher Shruti Desai Recalls Her ‘Disrespectful’ Behaviour After Actress’ Comments on Student Protests (Watch Video)
Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar faces backlash as ex-acting teacher Shruti Desai recalls her 'disrespectful' past behaviour. This comes after Pednekar's comments on the NEET-UG 2026 student protests and abusive language directed at PM Modi. The controversy has ignited a social media debate about celebrity conduct and changing worldviews.
A social media post by spiritual psychotherapist Shruti Desai, who claims to have been Bhumi Pednekar's acting teacher, has reignited the debate surrounding the actress's recent comments on the NEET-UG 2026 student protests. Desai publicly called out Pednekar, recalling what she described as the actress's 'disrespectful' and 'disdainful' conduct during her time as a student. Did Dia Mirza Take a Dig at Bhumi Pednekar Over NEET Protest Remarks? Alleged Comment Goes Viral.
Bhumi Pednekar's Teacher Slams Her
The controversy began after Bhumi Pednekar, 37, posted a series of videos addressing the ongoing student protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination. In her initial video, Pednekar condemned the abusive language directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, "this isn't our culture; it's wrong, and this really bothered me." She emphasised the importance of respectful dialogue, especially when addressing someone in the country's highest office, and urged the youth to maintain decorum.
Following these remarks, Shruti Desai took to Instagram to share her memories of teaching Pednekar at a Mumbai-based film school. In a pointed message, Desai wrote, "@bhumisatishpednekkar I remember I was, briefly, one of your teachers at a Mumbai-based film school. Unfortunately for me, I also remember how disrespectful, almost disdainful, you were about your teachers. Care to explain your new approach towards the concepts of respect and responsibility and how your world-view changed so drastically in the interim?"
Details Shared by Shruti Desai
Desai, identifying herself as a spiritual psychotherapist, claimed her association with Pednekar was brief. Her post specifically highlighted Pednekar's alleged "disrespectful, almost disdainful" attitude towards her teachers during her student years. She implied a contradiction between Pednekar's current public stance on 'respect and responsibility' and her past behaviour. Desai's remarks quickly gained traction, with actor Suchitra Pillai also endorsing the sentiment with clapping emojis.
Bhumi Pednekar's Acting Teacher Calls Out Her Past Behaviour in Viral Post
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Public Reaction and Bhumi's Follow-Up
Desai's post sparked a divided reaction across social media. Many users criticised Desai for bringing up Pednekar's past behaviour, with some questioning the fairness of judging someone based on their teenage actions. Comments included sentiments like, "So according to you, if someone is disrespectful and callous in younger days, should they be the same throughout their life? Never expected this from a teacher." Others, however, supported Desai for speaking her mind.
Amid the initial backlash to her comments, Bhumi Pednekar released a follow-up video condemning the rape and death threats reportedly directed at a young female protester whose video had gone viral. She stated, "This is unacceptable. We cannot bully a young girl. We cannot put fear psychosis in a young child's mind just because we don't agree with their opinion."
The NEET-UG 2026 Controversy
The NEET-UG 2026 protests, which commenced in early June, were triggered by widespread allegations of irregularities in the examination. Students across the country demanded accountability, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who subsequently stepped down on July 25. ‘Abuses Never Solve Anything’: PM Narendra Modi Says He Forgives Students in Instagram Video After Jantar Mantar Protest.
Bhumi Pednekar, known for her strong roles in films like Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) and Badhaai Do (2022), was last seen in the crime thriller Bhakshak (2024), which premiered on Netflix, and the comedy Mere Husband Ki Biwi (2025), released on February 21, 2025.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 04, 2026 04:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
