Rajkummar Rao extends support to protesting students, hints he was 'under pressure' to do 'Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai' song

Mumbai: Actor Rajkummar Rao has sparked discussion on social media after he appeared to suggest that he was under pressure when he participated in the promotional song Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai, before later deleting the comment in which he made the remark.

The now-deleted reply came after Rao expressed support for the ongoing student protests over alleged examination irregularities and called for dialogue between the authorities and protesters.

In his Instagram post on Wednesday, the actor urged that students be heard with dignity while appealing for peaceful resolution of the issue.

"When young people feel unheard, it is a reminder that society must listen. Every voice deserves to be heard with dignity, fairness and respect. At the same time, peace must remain our greatest strength. Violence, from any side, only deepens our wounds and takes us further away from meaningful solutions. This is a moment for dialogue and compassion," Rao wrote.

He further added, "Let students express themselves responsibly. Let authorities respond with empathy, openness and a genuine willingness to listen. Real and lasting change is built through conversation, not confrontation. This is what is needed now—more than ever. All of us collectively want one thing: growth for our nation and the foundation for that growth is fair education. Jai Hind."

While many users praised the actor for supporting the students, others questioned his participation in the 2019 promotional music video Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai, which featured several Bollywood personalities.

One Instagram user commented, "I had huge respect for you man... you lost it with one propaganda song!!! I never miss any of your movies, never thought you would sell off so easily. You were supposed to lead the new generation of artists instead."

Responding to the criticism, Rao posted a lengthy reply that was later deleted. Screenshots of the comment have since gone viral on social media.

"I can never sell my soul, brother. And one song does not define who I am, what I stand for, or what my ideologies in life are. You can never know the pressure. I stand for what is right and what keeps us united as human beings. As long as my conscience is clean and I work the hardest, nothing else matters. People who know me personally know who I am and hopefully, one day, I'll be able to earn back your respect. I wish you luck and happiness in life. God bless you," Rao wrote.

The phrase, "You can never know the pressure," has drawn particular attention online, with many social media users interpreting it as a reference to the circumstances under which the actor participated in the pro-government song. However, Rao did not elaborate on what he meant by the remark, nor did he specify the nature of the alleged pressure.

The actor subsequently deleted the response, although screenshots continued to circulate widely across social media platforms.

Rao has not issued any clarification on why he removed the comment or what he intended by referring to "pressure."

His remarks come amid growing support from several film personalities for the student movement, with a number of actors and filmmakers publicly expressing solidarity with protesters demanding reforms in the examination system and accountability over alleged paper leaks.