Actor and Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) chairman R Madhavan has come under criticism after students mocked his silence over the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests against the alleged NEET paper leak.

Photos from the FTII campus, which have gone viral on Instagram and X, show Madhavan's cabin door plastered with the popular "Gayab" meme alongside a poster reading, "NEET For Sale."

Students questioned why the actor, known for socially conscious films such as ‘3 Idiots’ and ‘Rang De Basanti’, has not publicly commented on the protests or the demand for greater accountability in the examination system. 

The viral images triggered reactions online, with users urging Madhavan to break his silence. Several posts mocked his recent patriotic roles, with one user joking that he was "still playing Ajit Doval" and therefore "staying underground."

Others questioned whether public figures associated with education-themed films have a responsibility to speak out during real-life crises.

The post also drew attention within the film industry. Actor Abhay Verma, who will next be seen in ‘King’, liked the Instagram post, while ‘Kabir Singh’ actor Soham Majumdar commented, "As expected."

Madhavan is not the only actor facing scrutiny. Aamir Khan was recently criticised after saying he did not know activist Sonam Wangchuk, despite long-standing reports that Wangchuk partly inspired ‘3 Idiots’.

Meanwhile, several film personalities, including Imran Khan, Zeenat Aman, Anurag Kashyap, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Abhay Deol and Omi Vaidya, have publicly supported the CJP movement.

Actors Shabana Azmi, Prakash Raj, Amol Parashar and Poonam Pandey also joined protesters in Delhi, where demonstrations continue over the alleged NEET paper leak and demands for education reforms.