Cinema VinesIn a move that has added star power to a growing wave of student dissent, former Miss World and Bollywood actress Manushi Chhillar took to Instagram on Thursday to voice her support for students protesting over the alleged leak of the NEET‑UG 2026 examination paper. The actress, who has long been a vocal advocate for educational reform, shared her own experience of having to sit for the medical entrance exam twice after a similar leak in 2015, describing the ordeal as deeply traumatic.
Chhillar’s post highlighted the emotional toll that such incidents take on students, noting that the exam represents years of hard work, sleepless nights, sacrifices and aspirations. She urged that the call for reform should not be mistaken for rejecting the institutions themselves, but rather a plea for a fairer system that listens, learns and improves. “In an unfair world, education becomes the biggest equaliser,” she wrote, adding that democracies grow stronger when they are willing to listen to their citizens.
In her caption, the actress emphasized that the protest is not about being anti‑India or anti‑institutions, but about believing that the system can be better. She stressed that every generation has a responsibility to leave behind a stronger system than the one it inherited, and expressed faith in India’s democracy and the potential for robust solutions through collective action.
Chhillar’s own story of having to retake the exam in 2015 due to a paper leak added a personal dimension to her message. She described the experience as “extremely traumatic” and highlighted how the incident forced her to confront the unfairness of the process. By sharing this narrative, she aimed to give voice to the countless students who have faced similar setbacks and to rally support for systemic reforms that would prevent future leaks and ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.
