Cinema VinesActor Swara Bhasker spoke to The Lallantop at Delhi’s historic Jantar Mantar on Friday, addressing the growing silence in Bollywood over the hunger strike of educationist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk. The protest, which has captured national headlines, has seen a flurry of support from public figures in 2011 during Anna Hazare’s anti‑corruption movement, yet many film stars appear reluctant to join the current cause.
When asked why the film industry has largely stayed away from Wangchuk’s stand, Bhasker explained that people are wary of the repercussions she herself has faced. “They’re not coming because they see the state I’m in. They know that if they speak up too much, the same thing that happened to Swara Bhasker will happen to all of us,” she said, alluding to her own past experiences with media backlash. The actress added that the present political climate is far different from the one in 2011, when the government was less hostile toward activists and students.
Bhasker criticized the current administration for what she described as “arrogance and shamelessness,” noting that the government’s response to the protest is far harsher than in the past. She urged the public not to rely on celebrity endorsement to legitimize a cause, saying, “Don’t place so much trust in celebrities. A cause doesn’t become important just because of a celebrity; the cause is important in its own right.”
She also revealed a personal stake in the movement: her daughter’s future. Bhasker said she would not want to leave India for a Dubai Golden Visa, and wants her child to be raised and educated in the country, with the same opportunities she received. This personal angle, she believes, strengthens her resolve to support Wangchuk’s hunger strike.
Despite her criticism of the government, Bhasker made it clear that she does not blame individual actors for choosing silence. She called on the film community to speak out, but emphasized that a movement’s worth should not depend on celebrity support. The actress’s comments come as the hunger strike continues to draw attention from across the nation, highlighting the tension between public activism and the cautious stance of many in the entertainment industry.
