27 July,2026 07:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Kangana Ranaut. Pic via Instagram
Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has reacted strongly to the viral videos emerging from the ongoing Gen Z-led student protests, saying the clips left her "scarred". Taking to social media, the actress criticised the language and behaviour seen in several protest videos, claiming they did not reflect the values and cultural identity she associates with India.
Sharing her thoughts on social media, Kangana said she was disturbed by the visuals circulating online and questioned the conduct of some of the protesters.
"Never in my life I have seen so much ugliness in one place, these reels from GenZ protests are puke inducing, the way they speak and the kind of language they are using, never in my life I have seen everything in each and every frame so jarring and so crass all at once, ewwww who is birthing and raising them?" she wrote.
The actress went on to compare the student protesters' appearance and behaviour to the name adopted by the movement. "India is a place of diversely beautiful people, draped in elegance and rooted in cultural sophistication, you call yourself cockroaches and look/behave like them as well. There is no paradox or juxtaposition there, just simply subjecting the world to your filth, garbage and ugliness. I am scarred from these reels, need some healing, digital detox," she added.
Her remarks have since sparked fresh debate online, with social media users expressing differing views on her comments.
This is not the first time Kangana has commented on the student movement. During the protests, she had questioned the methods adopted by demonstrators and criticised attempts to pressure the government through street protests.
The demonstrations, which began over allegations surrounding irregularities in the NEET examination process, later evolved into a broader movement demanding greater transparency, accountability and reforms in the education system. After weeks of protests and widespread public attention, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, bringing the protest to a close.
The issue also prompted reactions from several members of the entertainment industry. Celebrities including Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Dia Mirza, Vijay Varma, Huma Qureshi, Bhumi Pednekar and Vir Das, among others, expressed solidarity with the students in different ways during the course of the protests.
Although the demonstrations have now concluded, Kangana's latest post has reignited discussion on social media, adding another chapter to the celebrity reactions surrounding one of the country's most widely discussed student movements.
