Actor Zeeshan Ayyub has asked students not to lose hope as the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak row continues to take a toll. Reports suggest that at least 11 NEET aspirants across India have died by suicide in the 46 days between the exam's cancellation and the re-test on June 21.
NEET-UG 2026 was cancelled on May 12 after the NTA found that the question paper had been compromised. More than 2.27 million students had already appeared for the undergraduate medical entrance examination across 551 cities when the authorities made the announcement. It was the second year in a row that the exam had come under scrutiny.
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Zeeshan's message to students
In an instagram video, the actor said, “Main samajh bhi paa raha hoon iss takleef ko lekin phir bhi ek saathi hone ke naate main ye bolunga jyadda pareshaan na ho. Counselling se na darey, please logon se iske baare mein baat karein. Dosto khayal rakhieyen (I can understand the situation and the pain but I want to say that please do not worry too much. Do not feel scared of seeking counselling. Speak up about it to people. Take care of youselves)." He encouraged students to ask for support and seek professional help if required.
More than a paper leak
This isn't the first time a paper leak has derailed the lives of thousands of students who spent years preparing for a single exam. The NEET-UG controversy has now spilled beyond question papers and exam centres, it has become a conversation about mental health, systemic failure, and how much pressure young students in India are expected to silently carry.
The actor stressed that asking for support should not be seen as weakness, he added, “Main samajh bhi paa raha hoon iss takleef ko lekin phir bhi ek saathi hone ke naate main ye bolunga jyadda pareshaan na ho. Counselling se na darey, please logon se iske baare mein baat karein. Dosto khayal rakhieyen (I can understand the situation and the pain but I want to say that please do not worry too much. Do not feel scared of seeking counselling. Speak up about it to people. Take care of youselves).
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FAQs
Q1. How many students have died by suicide following the NEET-UG 2026 cancellation?
Ans: At least 11 NEET aspirants across India have reportedly died by suicide in the 46 days between the exam's cancellation and the re-test on June 21.
Q2. What did Zeeshan Ayyub say to NEET students?
Ans: Actor Zeeshan Ayyub urged students to not lose hope and asked them to speak openly about their struggles. He also encouraged students to not be afraid of seeking counselling.
