13 October,2026 10:20 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Rochelle Rao. Pic via Instagram
Actor Rochelle Rao has taken to social media to pen a strong-worded note over being trolled and silenced after voicing her support amid the ongoing protests. Notably, several celebrities have expressed their support and have been silenced on social media, with posts being taken down. In her note, Rochelle reflected on her family and ancestors, adding that it was a legacy they left behind for her.
Taking to Instagram stories, the actor wrote, "I've lost 3000 followers since the start of the most recent protests; I have family members asking me to keep quiet, but I just keep thinking of my great grandfather Sir.M.Venkatasubba Rao The first Indian to be appointed 'puisne judge of the Madras High Court' (he used to sneak into the high court to handle cases his British counterpart deemed unworthy or when he was on vacation, he bore insults and racial slurs throughout his career but never gave up, the trees he planted to mark our independence still stand in our homes) and his wife 'Lady Andal' one of the first feminists of Tamil Nadu, highly educated and respected she was a symbol of the independence movement for the women of Chennai!" (sic)
She went on to add, "Or what about my German Grandmother (their daughter-in law) who started multiple educational and charity organisations in their honour, carried on by her children until today!" (sic)
Rochelle further added, "Or my British grandfather on my mother's side, who chose to stay and build this country rather than return with the British and receive a great pension and all the comforts of life!" (sic)
Reflecting on their works, she shared, "What would they say, if I sat in fear and silence while the youth of this nation were beaten and broken and our freedom was robbed from us, right in front of our eyes!!" (sic)
Further lashing out at trolls, she wrote, "And for everyone that wants to call me 'rice bag' go ahead, I'll proudly hand out rice to anyone who needs it and while I'm at it I'll also uplift the downtrodden and speak for the voiceless, because that's my legacy, a legacy that built this country!!"(sic)
Earlier, Kritika Kamra also raised her voice, announcing that she is returning to X after Instagram restricted her posts about the protests.
The ongoing anti-CEC protests across India are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The demand also includes a complete rollback of the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
