Actor Naseeruddin Shah has voiced his support for students at a Kolkata-based film institute who are currently facing disciplinary proceedings. The situation has drawn national attention, prompting a formal response from the institute, which operates under the authority of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The core of the disagreement lies in the motivation behind the institute's actions. While Shah and the students suggest that the disciplinary measures are a response to student activism and protests, the institute has explicitly denied this characterization. In a statement, the administration argued that linking the disciplinary process to the students' right to protest is a misrepresentation of the facts. According to the institute, the proceedings are based on specific circumstances that do not involve the suppression of dissent.

Because the institute has not provided specific details regarding the nature of the disciplinary charges, the public remains divided on whether the actions are administrative or politically motivated. The institute’s statement serves as a rebuttal to the narrative that the students are being targeted for their political expression, though it stops short of detailing the specific infractions allegedly committed by the students. The situation remains a point of tension between the student body and the administration, with high-profile figures like Shah bringing increased scrutiny to the institute's internal policies.