Actor Bijou Thaangjam recently called out Bollywood for not raising voice against the ethnic violence unfolding in his home state, Manipur. He says the silence is disappointing, though this is not the first time the state has faced such indifference.

The Mary Kom (2014) actor says, “Previously, too, there have been so many issues when the state and its people needed support, but nobody from this fraternity came forward. Every time, we [expect] that things will change, but nobody comes out to speak for us until and unless there is pressure from the media or social media,” he says, adding that it’s already too late to react.

On June 17, Thaangjam and fellow Manipuri actor, Lin Laishram, among others, led a peaceful protest to draw attention to the grave situation the state is in. Thaangjam has also been constantly posting stories on Instagram, seeking support and spreading awareness on the matter, but to no avail. “I did not even get private calls or messages. Except a few, like director Omung Kumar and actor Abhilash Thapliyal, everyone saw my stories but no one responded. That left me perplexed because I am also part of this fraternity and I expect support from my friends,” he says.

Thaangjam points out that despite the message of inclusivity that goes around, “when something like this happens, suddenly everyone goes quiet”. The 37-year-old says: “We live in a culture where Bollywood stars and cricketers have a strong influence on people. They can at least talk about how Manipur is burning, like (actor) Richa Chadha did (she retweeted his post). It would create pressure even on the government to act soon.”