The protests, centred around education-related demands and the alleged NEET examination controversy, have drawn widespread public attention over the past week. As thousands of students gathered for the proposed "Sansad Chalo" march, reports of police action, including tear gas and lathi charge, sparked strong reactions from activists, opposition leaders and several members of the entertainment industry.

In a video shared on social media, Naseeruddin Shah became visibly emotional while speaking about the reported treatment of protesting students. The veteran actor described the alleged use of force as "zulm" (oppression) and questioned why peaceful demonstrators were being subjected to such action. His remarks quickly went viral, with supporters praising him for speaking out while discussions over the protests intensified online.

However, a separate viral video falsely claimed that Shah had personally joined the protest at Jantar Mantar with his sons. Multiple fact-checks later confirmed that the footage was actually recorded outside a theatre event in Mumbai and had no connection with the Delhi demonstration. While Shah publicly expressed concern over the reported violence, there is no verified evidence that he physically attended the protest site.

Shabana Azmi, meanwhile, has remained actively involved in the demonstrations. After spending time with students at Jantar Mantar, she also joined the march towards Parliament and shared videos from the protest site on social media. Calling the gathering peaceful, Azmi said the demonstrators were exercising their constitutional right to protest and deserved to be heard rather than confronted with force.

Speaking to television channels after the protest, Azmi said she personally witnessed tear gas shells being fired and students, including young women, being lathi-charged. She described the protesters as disciplined and non-violent, adding that she had "never seen such controlled children" despite the tense situation.

The actor also rejected suggestions that her participation was politically motivated. Azmi said she has never been associated with any political party and revealed that she and lyricist Javed Akhtar had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking dialogue before she decided to publicly support the movement. According to her, the decision to join the protest came only after waiting several days for a response.

Over the past several days, a number of well-known personalities have expressed solidarity with the student movement. Actors including Prakash Raj, Swara Bhasker and Soni Razdan have also extended support, while several filmmakers and writers have called for constructive dialogue between authorities and the protesters.

The demonstrations continue to attract national attention as protesters demand action on education-related issues and greater accountability from the authorities. With public debate growing sharper, the interventions by Shah and Azmi have added a significant cultural dimension to the ongoing movement, reflecting how voices from the film industry are increasingly participating in conversations around public policy and civil rights.