‘Suddenly Found Their Conscience’: Did Jannat Zubair Take a Swipe at Bollywood Celebrities Over Delayed NEET Protest Reaction?

The ongoing nationwide protests against alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) examinations have gripped the nation, drawing significant attention from various quarters, including the Bollywood fraternity. As of July 24, 2026, a growing number of film personalities have openly expressed solidarity with the protesting students. However, amidst this widespread support, speculation surrounding a cryptic post by television personality Jannat Zubair, purportedly taking a dig at her Bollywood counterparts, has now been confirmed. Varun Dhawan Hopes CJP Protest Remains About Students, Says ‘Their Voices Deserve To Be Heard and Protected’ (See Post).

Jannat Zubair's Confirmed Dig at Bollywood Peers

While the past few days have seen a surge in celebrity voices addressing the NEET controversy, television personality Jannat Zubair Rahmani did share a cryptic post on her social media platforms, which has been widely interpreted as a dig at Bollywood celebrities over their sudden support for the NEET protests.

On July 24, 2026, Zubair questioned the timing of their reactions, reportedly writing, "It's funny how everyone suddenly found their conscience on the same day" and "Interesting how empathy arrived all at once." She further noted that the protests had been ongoing for over a month, implying a delayed response from the film industry. Zubair, known for her active social media presence and past instances of sharing 'cryptic messages' on unrelated personal matters from 2020 to 2022, has thus made a public statement aligning with the premise of taking a 'dig' at her peers in this context.

Jannat Zubair's Instagram Story 

Bollywood Rallies for Students on Social Media (and Beyond)

In stark contrast to the initial unconfirmed reports regarding Jannat Zubair's stance, a wave of Bollywood and entertainment industry figures have unequivocally voiced their support for the students. Actors, filmmakers, and singers took to platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) to amplify student concerns, call for accountability, and demand a fairer education system following clashes during the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Chalo Sansad" march on July 20.

Notable celebrities who reacted include:

Salman Khan: Urged students to return home, expressed confidence in action against those responsible for paper leaks, and addressed activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his protest.

Kareena Kapoor Khan: Stressed that young people deserve a fair and reliable education system, emphasising that listening to students' concerns is an obligation.

Alia Bhatt: Shared a poignant social media post expressing heartbreak and hope, stating, "Behind every student standing their ground is a dream, a family's hope, a journey of countless sacrifices."

R Madhavan: Acknowledged the anger among students and parents, emphasising that an education system must inspire confidence, fairness, and opportunity.

Kamal Haasan: Criticised a "rotten" system where coaching replaces learning and criminality replaces merit, urging Sonam Wangchuk to end his fast.

Naseeruddin Shah & Ratna Pathak Shah: Both criticised alleged police action against students and supported their demand for justice.

Raghubir Yadav: Expressed hurt over videos of students allegedly being beaten and praised their courage.

Diljit Dosanjh: Criticised the treatment of students and urged authorities to listen to their demands.

Huma Qureshi & Saqib Saleem: Visited Jantar Mantar to extend direct support to protesting students.

Imran Khan: Joined a CJP protest march in Mumbai, interacting with students.

Aisha Khan: Claimed to have been detained during the Mumbai protests while standing in solidarity.

Sonu Sood, Vir Das, Dia Mirza, Soha Ali Khan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Rohit Saraf: Shared posts calling for empathy, open dialogue, and a safe environment for peaceful demonstrations.

Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Imtiaz Ali, Hanumankind, Sonakshi Sinha, Rajkummar Rao, Zoya Akhtar, Richa Chadha, Shabbana Azmi, Prakash Raj: Also expressed support for student concerns and joined the chorus of voices.

Comedian Vir Das was particularly vocal, calling out the initial silence of some Indian artists as "sheer hypocrisy" before the widespread support emerged, stating, "If you're an Indian live artist. I hope you understand the sheer hypocrisy of not speaking up for young people, and then trying to sell them tickets later." Alia Bhatt Speaks Out on CJP Protests, Says ‘The Last Few Days Have Broken My Heart’ (View Post).

The ongoing agitation underscores a deep-seated demand for transparency and fairness in India's education system, with public figures increasingly lending their weight to the student cause. Jannat Zubair's confirmed dig at Bollywood's delayed response amidst this vocal celebrity support adds an intriguing dimension to the unfolding national dialogue.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2026 05:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).