Did Naseeruddin Shah join CJP's New Delhi protest? The truth behind viral video

A video claiming to show veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah standing in solidarity with students protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi has gone viral. Several users alleged that the actor had quietly joined the demonstration along with his sons, Imaad Shah and Vivaan Shah. However, a fact check reveals that the claim is false.The viral clip shows Shah standing beside one of his sons as people walk past them. Many social media posts claimed the actor had attended the ongoing student protest but chose not to make any public statement.Naseeruddin Shah arrived at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, accompanied by his sons Imaad and Vivaan Shah, amidst the ongoing student protest.He made no public statement; instead, he stood quietly, leaning against a pillar, and observed the demonstration.He also watched intently as pic.twitter.com/ucb8A7KiFJ— Wynner (@tajkeproperties) July 20, 2026However, the viral videos have been selectively edited. The original footage clearly shows that Naseeruddin Shah was at a theatre event and not at Jantar Mantar. The cropped version circulating online omits portions of the video that reveal the actual location, creating the misleading impression that he was present at the protest.Watch the original video: The timeline also debunks the claim. The original video was first uploaded on July 15 and shared again on July 20, well before it began circulating with the false claim that Shah had attended the protest. It only went viral on Monday after being stripped of its original context and falsely linked to the student demonstration.What happened at Jantar Mantar?Despite heavy rain, thousands of protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar on Monday before marching towards Parliament. As roads around the protest site were sealed, several groups attempted to navigate through central Delhi and adjoining lanes to bypass multiple barricades. The standoff eventually escalated, with police resorting to tear gas and a lathi charge. A delegation from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) also met Union Health Minister JP Nadda and submitted a memorandum outlining three key demands: the immediate release of Sonam Wangchuk from the hospital, the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide following the exam paper leak.According to government sources, no assurances were given regarding the demands. However, Nadda urged the protesters to end their sit-in and cooperate with the administration.- EndsPublished By: Prachi aryaPublished On: Jul 21, 2026 11:26 IST