Bengali actors face heat after power shift to BJP; FIR filed over 2021 social media posts linked to post-poll violence

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coming to power in West Bengal after the recent Assembly election, ending 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule in the State, seems to have caused a sudden change of heart in popular Bengali actor Parambrata Chatterjee, evoking strong reactions from social media users, fellow actors, and the BJP leadership.

Mr. Chatterjee, who campaigned for Trinamool candidates ahead of the 2026 election, said on Wednesday that he had to “compromise” and align with the party led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the sake of his one-year-old son.

Reacting sharply to the actor’s remarks, BJP leader Keya Ghosh said many actors and thousands of BJP supporters across the State did not compromise despite pressure from the Trinamool Congress.

After the regime change in the State, not only Trinamool leaders but also actors in the Bengali film industry perceived to be close to the previous regime are facing the heat. Soon after the BJP’s victory, the State police initiated 458 new inquiries, registered 181 fresh FIRs, and reopened 59 cases in which final reports had been submitted.

A police complaint was filed against actor Swastika Mukherjee and Mr. Chatterjee on Thursday, citing an exchange on social media on May 2, 2021 on the issue of post-poll violence.

The complaint, filed by advocate Joydeep Sen at the Gariahat police station in Kolkata, alleged that the actors made provocative social media posts that abetted and incited the widespread post-poll violence in May 2021.

On the basis of the complaint, the police registered an FIR under Sections 109 (punishment of abetment) and 153 (giving provocation with the intent to cause a riot) of the Indian Penal Code.

According to the complaint, after the Trinamool Congress won the 2021 poll on May 2 that year, Mr. Chatterjee posted on X, “Let today be declared World Thrashing Day.” Ms. Mukherjee allegedly responded to the post by writing, “Hahaha, let it be.”

The 2021 Assembly poll was followed by violence that left more than 50 BJP supporters dead. Several women associated with the party also alleged that they were sexually assaulted.

The National Human Rights Commission in its report to the Calcutta High Court on the post-poll violence had said the situation in the State is a manifestation of “Law of Ruler” instead of Rule of Law.

Allegations surface

Following the BJP storming to power, allegations of certain Trinamool leaders running the Bengali film industry for the past one decade and a section of actors being hand in glove with them have come to fore. There have been charges of those with opposing political ideologies being banned and denied work. According to data from the film industry till 2025, the number of films produced dropped by 70%.