Snehashish roy
Actor Bhumi Pednekar has found herself at the centre of yet another controversy after her former acting coach publicly questioned her recent remarks on respect and responsibility during the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests. The criticism comes days after Bhumi’s video condemning abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi sparked a sharp divide on social media.
Shruti Desai, who identified herself as one of Bhumi’s former teachers at a Mumbai-based acting school, took to Instagram to challenge the actor’s recent messaging. Recalling her experience of teaching Bhumi, Desai alleged that the actor had been “disrespectful, almost disdainful” towards her teachers during her student days. She questioned what had led to such a dramatic change in Bhumi’s views on respect and responsibility, asking the actor to explain her apparent shift in perspective.
Desai’s post quickly gained traction online after actor Suchitra Pillai reacted to it with applauding emojis, lending further visibility to the criticism. Social media users were divided over the allegations. While some praised Desai for speaking out and questioned Bhumi’s consistency, others defended the actor, arguing that people mature over time and should not be judged solely by their behaviour as teenagers or young students.
The fresh criticism follows Bhumi’s recent Instagram video in which she condemned the abusive language used against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the CJP-led protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination. The actor said such language did not reflect India’s culture and urged young people to express disagreement respectfully. Comparing public discourse to the respect shown towards elders at home, Bhumi argued that meaningful change could only come through civil dialogue rather than abuse.
However, the video itself triggered a wave of backlash. Many users accused Bhumi of selectively addressing the language used by some protesters while remaining silent on allegations of police action against students during the demonstrations. Critics described her remarks as disconnected from the concerns of the protesters, with several alleging that she had focused on civility without acknowledging the circumstances that had fuelled public anger.
Amid the criticism, Bhumi later released another video expressing support for a young protester who had reportedly received rape and death threats online. Calling for empathy and unity, she stressed that everyone ultimately wanted India’s progress and urged people to reject online abuse regardless of political differences. The follow-up statement was viewed by some as an attempt to broaden the conversation beyond political divisions and focus on the impact of online hostility.
Bhumi has not responded publicly to Shruti Desai’s allegations. The actor’s supporters have pointed out that individuals often evolve significantly over the course of their lives and careers, while critics continue to question whether her recent calls for respectful discourse align with her past conduct. The episode has further intensified the debate surrounding celebrities’ interventions in the ongoing CJP protests, where statements on civility, politics and accountability have increasingly come under public scrutiny.