Actor Bhumi Pednekar’s comments on the NEET-UG 2026 protest controversy have drawn criticism from an unexpected quarter. Spiritual psychotherapist Shruti Desai, who says she briefly taught the actor at a Mumbai-based film school, recalled Bhumi as “disrespectful” and “almost disdainful” towards her teachers while questioning the actor’s recent stance on “respect and responsibility”.
Desai’s remarks came as Bhumi continues to face backlash over her social media videos on the student protests and reprimanding those who abused the PM. While some users backed Desai for speaking out, others accused her of unfairly judging the actor based on her behaviour from her teenage years.
‘I remember how disrespectful you were’
In a post on social media, Desai recalled her brief association with Bhumi and questioned what she described as a dramatic shift in the actor’s worldview.
“@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?” she wrote on Instagram.
See the post here:
Internet remains divided
Desai’s post sparked mixed reactions online.
Several users criticised her for bringing up Bhumi’s conduct from years ago. One comment read, “So according to you, if someone is disrespectful and callous in younger days, should they be the same throughout their life? Never expected this from a teacher (sic).” Another user wrote, “And targeting a 15-year-old girl at that, instead of offering two words of support to her (sic).”
Others, however, endorsed Desai’s remarks. Comments included, “Shruti I am so proud to call you my friend, bravo bravo (sic),” and, “Thank you for saying it as it is.” Another user countered, “I hope Shruti’s teacher also comment about how Shruti was when she was 15 (sic).”
Read the comments here:
What sparked the controversy?
The criticism stemmed from Bhumi’s recent videos addressing the NEET-UG 2026 protest row.
In a video posted earlier this week, the actor condemned the abusive language directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the protests. She said such language was unacceptable, particularly when directed at the country’s highest constitutional office, and argued that meaningful change could only come through respectful dialogue.
The video triggered widespread criticism on social media, with many users accusing Bhumi of overlooking the police action against students during the July 20 Sansad March. Critics argued that while she condemned the language used by some protesters, she did not address reports that demonstrators were lathi-charged, tear-gassed and forcibly dispersed.
After severe backlash, Bhumi, on August 3, shared another video condemning the rape and death threats allegedly directed at a young female protester.
“Rape and death threats are unacceptable. Aggression is unacceptable. Let’s stop all this (sic),” she wrote.
In the accompanying video, Bhumi said she had watched an interview of the protester and was disturbed to see the young woman visibly shaken.
Despite the clarification, many social media users described the post as “damage control”, arguing that condemning the threats should have been her first response to the controversy.
Bhumi has also faced accusations of selective outrage, with critics claiming she chose to comment on the conduct of protesters without speaking about the concerns that prompted the student-led demonstrations.
Desai’s post has now intensified the conversation, with opinion remaining sharply divided between those who believe the actor deserves criticism and those who feel her former teacher’s remarks were misplaced.
The student-led protests began in early June over the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination, with protesters demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He eventually resigned on July 25.
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