‘You've chosen not to say anything...’ Actor Inayat Sood questions bollywood's fear of speaking up

Actor Inayat Sood has sparked discussion after sharing a candid Instagram post on why many actors avoid speaking out on national issues. Referring to the ongoing CJP protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, she argued that fear is often behind celebrities' silence, but said it is time for artists to break that cycle.

Sood, known for ‘De De Pyaar De’ and Netflix's ‘Scoop’, wrote that actors have "inherited silence" from previous generations who believed expressing opinions could damage careers.

"We've inherited this idea that opinions cost careers, that neutrality is professionalism, that if you care too loudly you'll become difficult to cast," she wrote.

The actor acknowledged that speaking out may be easier for someone with "not too much of a career to lose yet," but insisted that empathy is central to being an artist.

She also argued that social media has changed the meaning of silence.

"Silence used to mean you didn't know. Today, it usually means you've chosen not to say anything," she wrote, adding that artists have a responsibility to care about the world around them.

Without naming anyone directly, Sood referred to activist Sonam Wangchuk and the protesters at Jantar Mantar, saying she does not want India to become a country that recognises people only after they have sacrificed everything.

Calling on actors, influencers and creators to move beyond fear, she urged them to support causes they believe in whether by speaking up online, learning more about issues, or showing up in person.

"Care about something. Choose what you believe in. Speak about it... Silence doesn't have to be the thing we inherit," she concluded.

Her post were looked up by several members of the film industry, with Dia Mirza, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Ayesha Raza and Nakuul Mehta.