Shabana Azmi Diagnosed with H1N1 Misses Mumbai Protest

Veteran actor and activist Shabana Azmi has been diagnosed with H1N1 swine flu, forcing her to miss a planned student protest in Mumbai on Friday, July 24, 2026. The 74-year-old announced her diagnosis on social media, stating she has been advised to isolate for five days and is recovering with a high fever.

Azmi had been a prominent public figure supporting the ongoing student-led demonstrations, which began over allegations of a paper leak in the NEET medical entrance exam and have expanded to demand broader educational reforms. In the days preceding her illness, she actively participated in protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, marching alongside students, addressing crowds, and supporting those on hunger strike.

In a social media post explaining her absence from the Mumbai event, Azmi wrote that she was meant to join the demonstrators but was unable to after contracting H1N1. She expressed continued solidarity with the movement, stating she remains closely connected and receives firsthand reports from young protesters on the ground. She praised their determination, noting that many were participating in a demonstration for the first time and that their courage continues to...