Bhumi Pednekar continues to face criticism over her remarks on the language used during the CJP-led NEET-UG 2026 protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Adding another layer to the controversy, her former acting coach Shruti Desai has publicly questioned the actor’s views on respect, recalling what she described as Bhumi’s behaviour during her acting school days.
Former acting coach recalls classroom experience
Shruti Desai, who said she briefly taught Bhumi at a Mumbai-based film school, shared a post on social media alleging that the actor had once displayed disrespect towards her teachers. Referring to Bhumi’s recent comments on public conduct, Desai questioned what had led to such a change in her outlook.She wrote, “@bhumisatishpednekkar I remember, I was, briefly, one of your teachers at a Mumbai-based film school. Unfortunately for me, I also remember how disrespectful, almost disdainful, you were about your teachers. Care to explain your new approach towards the concepts of respect and responsibility and how your world-view changed so drastically in the interim?”
Bhumi’s comments on protest language
The controversy began after Bhumi posted a video objecting to the abusive language allegedly used by some protesters against the Prime Minister during the demonstrations.She said, “Looking at the videos surfacing now, the kind of language being used, and the way the youth of our country are speaking — the youth of our country… this isn’t how we talk, man. We are talking about someone who holds the highest office in the land today. And it’s not just about the office; would we ever speak like this to the elders in our own homes? Can we really resort to using abusive language?”She further added, “Guys, this isn’t our culture; it’s wrong, and this really bothered me — that’s why I wanted to come forward and address this: a country will only progress and move forward when, collectively and unitedly, we discuss our flaws as well as the good things. Our culture and value system form our backbone; we shouldn’t stray from them, otherwise, we won’t be able to communicate the right things in the right way, and they will never be implemented or lead to change.“
Social media users question her stance
Bhumi’s remarks quickly drew criticism online, with several social media users accusing the actor of focusing on the protesters’ language instead of the issues that sparked the demonstrations. Many also questioned why she had remained silent during the Sansad March, where students allegedly faced police action, including lathi charges and pellet guns.The criticism largely centred on what users described as her lack of public support for the protesting students despite speaking out against the tone of some demonstrators.
Follow-up video fuels more debate
Amid mounting backlash, Bhumi released another video condemning the rape and death threats allegedly directed at a young female protester after one of her videos went viral.She said, “I saw a video on the Internet, in which a young girl who was part of the protest was giving an interview, and she looked visibly broken and shaken. Her one video had went viral, and since then she has been receiving rape and death threats, even her mother faced the same. This is unacceptable. We cannot bully a young girl. We cannot put fear psychosis in a young child’s mind just because we don’t agree with their opinion.“Despite her appeal against online abuse, the second video also received mixed reactions. Several users argued that while condemning threats was necessary, the follow-up message appeared to them as an attempt to address the criticism she had received over her initial remarks rather than responding to the protesters’ primary concerns.
