‘I am a huge fan’: Naseeruddin Shah meets Abhijeet Dipke ahead of Mumbai agitation

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah met Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke in Mumbai on Friday ahead of the group’s protest at Shivaji Park, with a video of their warm interaction drawing attention on social media. The two hugged, shook hands and expressed admiration for each other during the meeting. The meeting took place when Dipke was attending the Festival of Alternatives 2026 ahead of the CJP demonstration. Shah approached Dipke at the event, catching the CJP founder by surprise.

Shah surprises Dipke

Video from the meeting showed Shah walking up to Dipke before the two warmly embraced and shook hands. Shah told Dipke that he had specifically come to meet him, hug him, shake his hand and thank him. A visibly surprised Dipke responded by telling Shah that he was a huge admirer of the veteran actor and had not known that he was present at the event. Shah reciprocated the admiration and praised Dipke’s work.

Dipke later posted the video of their interaction on X with the caption, “Am I dreaming or what?” The clip quickly circulated online as preparations continued for the CJP’s demonstration in Mumbai.

Meeting before protest

The interaction came shortly before the CJP’s planned “Jail Bharo Andolan” at Shivaji Park. The group has been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and raising objections over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Those are demands and allegations made by the CJP and other critics of the electoral-roll exercise; they do not by themselves establish wrongdoing by the Election Commission or the CEC. Shah subsequently reached Shivaji Park as the protest got underway. Singer-composer Vishal Dadlani and actor Shabana Azmi were also among the prominent personalities who joined the gathering.

Police had denied permission

The CJP had originally sought permission to hold its October 2 demonstration at Shivaji Park, but Mumbai Police denied permission. Dipke then announced that the organisation would proceed with a “Jail Bharo Andolan”.

The protest was scheduled to begin at 4 pm near Gate No. 6 of Shivaji Park, with security stepped up in the area. Supporters began gathering before the scheduled start, carrying placards and raising slogans linked to the CJP’s demands concerning the Election Commission. The meeting with Shah came a day after Dipke was taken to Marine Drive police station following a gathering with supporters carrying placards. Police later disputed characterisations of the episode as a formal detention, while Dipke left the station after a brief stay.

Warm exchange draws attention

For Dipke, Friday began on a markedly different note. His brief meeting with Shah — particularly the embrace and the exchange in which both described themselves as admirers of the other — became one of the widely shared moments ahead of the Mumbai protest. The interaction also brought additional attention to the CJP’s protest plans, with Shah’s appearance alongside Dipke followed by his presence at Shivaji Park later in the day.