On January 31, 2026, Mumbai University disinvited actor Naseeruddin Shah from an academic literary event on campus, reportedly in response to his criticism of the government.

Shah had been scheduled to recite poetry at a cultural and literary event organized by the university’s Urdu department on February 1, 2026. However, on the eve of the event, the university informed Shah that he “need not attend” the event. The university provided no official reason. The event proceeded without him, and the university told the audience that Shah had declined the invitation.

In a public statement, Shah expressed his disappointment, noting that engaging with students is one of the most rewarding aspects of his career. In an opinion piece published by The Indian Express, Shah claimed the university “didn’t have the courage to state the truth,” and reported that a senior official took issue with how Shah “openly made statements against the country.” Shah has long been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Modi and the political climate surrounding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the last-minute disinvitation of a scholar from a planned event, apparently in response to the peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression. Higher education leaders should respect academic freedom by refraining from restrictions on academic activity. Attempts to limit academic discussion and exchange undermine academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://www.thequint.com/news/breaking-news/naseeruddin-shah-disinvited-mumbai-university-event#read-more#read-more
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/when-a-university-speaks-power-to-truth-10514208/
https://images.dawn.com/news/1194848/naseeruddin-shah-is-not-happy-after-being-disinvited-from-mumbai-university-urdu-event