23 July,2026 07:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Kareena Kapoor. Pic via Instagram
Actress Kareena Kapoor has voiced her support for the students protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and wider demands for education reforms. The actor took to Instagram to share a note, saying she could no longer stay silent as the voices of young people calling to be heard had become "impossible to ignore."
Sharing her thoughts on Instagram, Kareena admitted she had spent a few days reflecting on the issue before deciding to speak out.
"I've sat with this for a few days, but I can't sit with it any longer. The voices of so many young people asking to be heard are impossible to ignore... and they shouldn't be," she wrote.
The actor stressed that education is about much more than academics. According to Kareena, it gives children confidence, offers hope for a better future and reassures families that hard work can change their lives.
Kareena also reflected on the importance of preserving students' faith in the education system. She said that belief begins to fade when young people feel that honesty, hard work and merit are no longer enough to succeed.
"We all know what education means to a child. It gives them confidence. It gives them hope. It gives families proof that tomorrow can be better than today. But education only works if children believe in it. And they stop believing the moment they suspect that honesty, hard work and merit don't actually count," she wrote.
While many fans praised her for standing in support of the students, she also got severe backlash for the timing of her reaction.
Her statement adds to the growing number of voices from the entertainment industry like Salman Khan, R Madhavan, Sonakshi Sinha and more reacting to the student-led protest, which has sparked nationwide debate over examination reforms and accountability. Over the past few weeks, several actors and filmmakers have publicly commented on the protests, while students continue to gather at Jantar Mantar, urging the government to address their demands and restore confidence in the country's education system.
The ongoing protest has continued for nearly a month. Students have been demanding accountability over the alleged NEET paper leak, sweeping reforms to the education system and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
