Mary Kom actor Bijou Thaangjam on Bollywood’s silence on Manipur violence: I didn’t even get one call to inquire about the situation

Over a hundred people have died and more than 240 people have been seriously injured after two communities clashed with each other in Manipur on May 3 this year. Since then, the tensions in the minds of people living in the state have soared tremendously, many of whom have now got a fear of death.

Considering these developments, actor Bijou Thaangjam has spoken in public about the appalling situation in the state. While the government agencies are working in full swing to ensure peace in the state, the actor feels that a mass-scale social media awareness is needed on this burning issue so that people can act on it.

The actor even shared how nobody from Bollywood reached out to him and desired to know about the state.

In an interview with HT City, 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 the (film) 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.”

The actor adds that it’s anyway too late to react now. “It’s already been more than 40 days of violence. If they would have wanted to do anything, they would have already done it. So even if they do come out now and talk about Manipur, what’s the point?” he rues.

“Forget about speaking on the matter, I did not even get private calls or messages from anyone in the industry to inquire about the situation,” the actor adds.

He is praying that the situation in Manipur changes and for the better.

The 37-year-old Bijou Thaangjam rose to fame after featuring in Priyanka Chopra Jonas starrer Mary Kom in 2014. He was last seen in the 2022 film Lakadbaggha wherein he played the role of a shopkeeper.