Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has drawn attention with a fresh political statement, declaring himself a “Dimagi Naxal” in a video shared on Facebook. The actor addressed the camera while displaying a badge bearing the phrase, using the label to criticise the government and its treatment of dissenters.

His remarks come amid protests surrounding Kolkata’s Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), where students have been demanding accountability from the administration. His video also drew a response from Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who reposted it with a message expressing support for the actor.

In the video, Shah proudly embraces the label “Dimagi Naxal” and refers to other terms used to describe government critics, including “anti-national” and “tukde-tukde gang”.

“I say with pride, I am a Dimagi Naxal,” he says, before questioning what other labels have been assigned to people like him. He then turns his criticism towards the government, alleging that it is responsible for dividing the country.

The term “Dimagi Naxal” gained wider political attention after Prime Minister Narendra Modi used it in his Independence Day address in August. Shah’s use of the phrase appears to be a pointed response to the language used in political debates about dissent and criticism of the government.

Mahua Moitra backs Naseeruddin Shah

Mahua Moitra also weighed in after Shah’s video circulated online. Sharing the clip, the Trinamool Congress MP wrote, “I proudly declare that I am a Dimagi Naxal.”

She then addressed the actor directly, adding, “Sir, we too are proud of you—for being a nationalist.”

Why has Naseeruddin Shah spoken out over the SRFTI protests?

Shah’s latest comments follow his earlier intervention in the controversy at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute in Kolkata. The dispute intensified after clashes on September 27, 2026, between students and members of the RSS-linked Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat during a campus event.

The incident was followed by protests and allegations of attacks, prompting students to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera. They accused the institute’s administration of failing to ensure their safety.

The institute subsequently suspended six students over alleged misconduct, a decision challenged by the students’ union. Shah, along with filmmakers Payal Kapadia and Anand Patwardhan, expressed support for the protesters.

The controversy has also drawn criticism from the BJP over Shah’s comments, while the institute’s administration has alleged that outside groups have politicised the student agitation.

Student protests extend beyond the campus

The wider political climate has also seen protests over electoral issues. The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has intensified its campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and opposing the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The group alleges that the revision process has deprived millions of people of their voting rights. The Election Commission and the BJP have denied allegations of manipulation.

The CJP has also called for electoral reforms and an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in voter-list revisions. During a special hearing on Sunday, the Supreme Court reportedly observed that there would be no detention of protesters and that public transport would return to normal.

-With agency inputs