Cinema VinesIn a scathing commentary published in ThePrint, author and columnist Shobhaa De criticized Bollywood’s response to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests, arguing that the industry’s biggest stars appear out of touch with India’s Gen Z. De highlighted the disconnect between the film fraternity and the youth‑led movement that erupted over the alleged NEET‑UG paper leak, suggesting that many celebrities only joined the fray once they felt it was politically safe to do so.
De singled out Salman Khan’s Instagram post in support of activist Sonam Wangchuk, calling the message “cringe” and “uncool.” She noted that Khan’s attempt to call Wangchuk “Bro” and offer a home‑cooked meal to break his fast drew widespread derision rather than praise. “Maybe Salman thought he was being ‘cool’, but Gen Z rewrote the definition of ‘cool’,” De wrote, emphasizing that the younger generation does not need celebrity endorsements to feel validated.
Beyond Khan, De also criticized the remarks of other prominent film figures, including Kangana Ranaut, Hema Malini and Anupam Kher. She described their comments as “inane” and “tasteless,” accusing them of adding insult to injury while the youth movement continued to gain momentum. De coined the term “Generation Gutter” to refer to those stars who she believes have lost touch with the pulse of Gen Z.
According to De, Bollywood has never been more “irrelevant” to the young audience it relies on for box‑office success. She argued that the industry’s response to the CJP protests was largely driven by political patronage, with stars posting scripted messages once they received a green light from their political allies. In her view, the film stars’ attempts to engage with the movement were met with mockery, revealing a widening gap between the industry and the next generation of Indian citizens.
Shobhaa De’s critique comes at a time when the CJP protests have drawn national attention and sparked debate over the role of celebrity influence in social and political movements. While Salman Khan was one of the first major Bollywood actors to publicly support the protests, De’s article underscores a broader sentiment that many in the entertainment industry may be out of step with the values and expectations of Gen Z.
