21 July,2026 03:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Cast of Rang De Basanti. Pic via X
More than two decades after its release, Rang De Basanti has found renewed relevance as visuals from the film flood social media alongside the ongoing CJP protests over alleged NEET irregularities and demands for education reforms. This time, however, it isn't one of the film's iconic speeches that has gone viral. Instead, it is the emotionally charged sequence in which peaceful protesters are lathi-charged, dragged away and assaulted by police during a demonstration.
The widely shared clip shows Aamir Khan, Atul Kulkarni, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kapoor and their friends leading a peaceful protest at India Gate following the death of Flight Lieutenant Ajay Rathod. As demonstrators demand accountability, police arrive at the scene, use force to disperse the crowd and drag away protesters, with several of them brutally beaten. The sequence marks one of the film's biggest turning points, highlighting the cost of speaking out against those in power.
As videos of clashes between protesters and security personnel in Delhi continue to dominate social media, many users have been sharing the Rang De Basanti sequence, drawing parallels between the fictional crackdown depicted in the film and visuals emerging from the ongoing demonstrations. While the contexts differ, the imagery of protesters being forcibly removed has resonated widely online.
The viral moment comes amid nationwide conversations surrounding the NEET controversy and the youth-led protests demanding accountability and education reforms. Demonstrators attempting to march towards Parliament were stopped by heavy police deployment, with reports of clashes, tear gas and injuries dominating headlines over the past two days.
Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Rang De Basanti has repeatedly resurfaced during moments of public unrest since its 2006 release. While remembered for its powerful dialogues on responsibility and change, the film's protest sequences continue to strike a chord whenever debates around youth activism and state response dominate public discourse.
As the CJP protests continue, the film's images of students confronting authority and the subsequent police action have once again become one of the most widely circulated cinematic references on social media, reminding many viewers why Rang De Basanti remains one of Bollywood's most enduring political dramas.
