Cinema VinesActor Prakash Raj has become one of the earliest film personalities to publicly back the student‑led protests spearheaded by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). He was on the ground in Bengaluru in June, and later joined the CJP’s “Chalo Sansad” march in New Delhi, standing beside the protestors at Jantar Mantar on July 20. Images of the actor walking among the demonstrators quickly spread across social media, prompting him to use his X account to reaffirm his solidarity with the movement and to demand that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign over alleged irregularities in the NEET exam paper.
In a video montage posted on X, Raj highlighted the “freedom struggle” he sees brewing among India’s youth. He wrote, “Youth of my country are fighting for their future. A movement like freedom struggle is brewing again. I will continue to empower this churning… I will continue to hold their hands… give them my strength and stand by them for their future.” The actor also criticized the silence of many Bollywood stars, saying that “the world is watching” and that those who remain silent will never be forgiven when history looks back.
During an interview with PeekTV, Raj emphasized that the response from the industry matters less than the integrity of those who speak up. He noted that some well‑known actors—Hrithik Roshan, Vishal Dadlani, Sonakshi Sinha, Chinmayi Sripaada, among others—have shown support for the cause online, but he urged them to use their voices on the ground. He added, “People have great voices, great actors… I wish they used it for this. They have not, people will judge!”
Alongside Raj, other prominent figures such as Shabana Azmi and Poonam Pandey marched with the protestors on July 20. Earlier, Raj had met with activist Wangchuk, posting photos that read, “In solidarity with the youngsters of my country at #JantarMantar @Wangchuk66 @Cockroachisback #justasking.” The images showed him speaking with the demonstrators and posing beside Wangchuk, underscoring his commitment to the movement’s objectives.
