New Delhi: Bollywood actor Bhumi Pednekar has come under criticism on social media after commenting on the alleged use of abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the month-long NEET-UG 2026 protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
The controversy erupted after the actor shared a video on Instagram urging young people to express their anger without using offensive language. Soon after the video was posted, several social media users questioned why she had remained silent on the alleged police action against students during the Parliament march on July 20.
Critics accused the actor of making a “selective” statement and ignoring allegations of lathi-charge and police violence against protesting students.
In her Instagram video, Pednekar expressed concern over the language heard in videos circulating on social media. She said that using such language for a person holding the country’s highest constitutional office was not in keeping with India’s culture and values.
Appealing to young people to maintain decorum while expressing dissent, she said, “The kind of language being used by the youth of our country is not how we speak. We are talking about a person who holds the highest office in the country.”
Her remarks have since triggered a wave of reactions online, with users divided over her comments and the broader debate surrounding the protests.
