‘I'm Dimagi naxal and declare it proudly’: Naseeruddin Shah now backs Jamia students with new video

Veteran Bollywood actors Naseeruddin Shah, second right, Ratna Pathak Shah, right. File

Calling himself a proud "dimagi naxal", veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has slammed the government while coming out in support of Jamia Millia Islamia students who have been protesting for the restoration of their union.

In a video posted on Facebook on Tuesday (October 27, 2026), a visibly angry Mr. Shah accused the BJP-led central government of trying to destroy the education system and break the "courage of the country's youth". Shah was also wearing the 'Dimagi Naxal' pin that he showed to the camera.

"I proudly declare that I am 'Dimagi Naxal'. I don't know what other nicknames the watchmen have given to people like me, anti-national, 'tukde tukde' gang, and I don't know what else," Mr. Shah said in Hindi.

"... I want to ask this government a question. What else will you do to break the courage of our country's youth, to destroy the education system, and to put our democracy at risk? How much will you do? How far will you go?" he said in the video.

The 76-year-old Hindi cinema star, who has been posting frequent videos, has been vocal in his support for students-related issues and has criticised the government for its handling of the Cockroach Janata Party-led protest over NEET exam irregularities in July.

Last week, Mr. Shah had also come out in support of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute students who have staged an indefinite sit-in over violent incidents on the campus.

"First Jawaharlal Nehru University, then Satyajit Ray Film Institute, and now Jamia Millia. The atrocities that are being done on students will be remembered. Everything will be remembered," he said, quoting Aamir Aziz's popular poem.

He also recited the line "Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai" from Bismil Azimabadi's famous poem "Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil mein hai".

The protesting students have demanded a definite date for the polls, which have not been held since 2006, and a clear timeline for approving the student union's constitution.