At the heels of Kolkata rape and murder case, Bollywood celebrities have taken to their social media handles to slam the system, demanding justice for the victim.

The brutal rape and murder of a young trainee doctor in Kolkata has sent shockwaves across India. The heinous crime, which unfolded at the prestigious RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, has ignited a firestorm of anger and demands for justice. Social media has been flooded with heartwrenching messages, criticisms and calls for action. Bollywood celebrities, including Alia Bhatt, Swara Bhasker, Vijay Varma, Parineeti Chopra, Ayushmann Khurrana, Kangana Ranaut, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Preity Zinta, Richa Chadha, and Tisca Chopra, have joined the chorus of voices condemning the horrific incident.

“Another brutal rape, Another day of realisation that women are not safe. Don’t tell women to change their path – change the terrain. Every woman deserves better,” Alia wrote on Instagram, echoing the sentiments of millions. Swara Bhasker, on X (formerly Twitter), called the crime a “painful reminder that India is no country for women,” while stressing that “the accused must be put on trial and justice must be served speedily.”

Parineeti Chopra’s powerful Instagram post described the brutality of the attack with stark honesty. “If it’s too difficult for you to read, imagine what it was for her. Disgusting. Horrific. Hang him by his b***s,” she wrote. Ayushmann Khurrana’s poignant poem, “Kaash Main Bhi Ladka Hoti,” captured the deep-rooted inequality faced by women in India. The actor’s video, shared widely on social media, has sparked a powerful conversation about gender-based violence.

Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut took to her  Instagram handle and demanded that the CBI must intervene in the case. “Murder of a trainee woman doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata is horrible & horrific. The semi-nude body of the woman post-graduate trainee doctor was found inside the seminar hall on Friday morning. She was brutally murdered and her body bore multiple injury marks. The preliminary autopsy report indicated sexual abuse before her murder. I hope case is transferred to CBI for complete inquiry and the assaulter is punished harshly,” she urged.

The medical community is in mourning, with doctors across the country demanding increased safety measures and a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crime. The arrest of the accused, a civic volunteer, and the subsequent transfer of the case to the CBI have offered a glimmer of hope for justice. However, as Kareena Kapoor Khan pointed out, “12 years later, the same story, the same protest. But we are still waiting for change.” The Nirbhaya case, a horrific gang rape in Delhi in 2012, remains a stark reminder of the challenges India faces in ensuring women’s safety.

Preity Zinta’s impassioned plea for prioritising women’s safety highlighted the systemic failures that have allowed such atrocities to continue. She called for stricter punishments, accountability for those in charge, and a united front among women to demand change.
“It’s time women’s safety is prioritized by the government. It’s heartbreaking and disgusting to see a rapist’s face hidden/covered when arressted, while victims of rape and violent sexual crime have their names and faces leaked in the media. Justice is never swift, punishment is never severe and people are never held accountable,” she urged in her post.Richa Chadha and Tisca Chopra also added their voices to the growing echo of outrage, demanding justice for the victim and systemic reforms to prevent such tragedies from happening again. Richa took to her X  handle urging West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to ensure justice for the victim. “The women of this country expect a fair and impartial investigation from you @MamataOfficial, and swift justice. You’re the only woman currently to occupy the post of Chief Minister. #JusticeForMoumita,” she tweeted.

Tisca Chopra, sharing a picture of herself in white, wearing a tricolour dupatta, wrote, about concerns she has as a mother. “As the mother of a young girl, how do I feel when another woman is raped? An ‘Independent’, educated working woman at her place of work, after working a 36 hour shift. A doctor,” she wrote in her post.