A viral Instagram Story claiming to show Deepika Padukone speaking out in support of activist Sonam Wangchuk has been found to be fake.
The manipulated post surfaced amid the ongoing student protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and growing support for Wangchuk from several Bollywood personalities. However, there is no evidence that the actress shared the viral message on her official Instagram account.
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What did the viral post claim?
The fake Instagram Story claimed that Deepika had re-shared a quote reading, “He is fasting. We are scrolling. That’s the state of our democracy. Dissent is not anti-national, apathy is.”
It further carried a caption allegedly written by the actress that read: “Why is no one speaking about this? We are living through the darkest hour of democracy. No matter how many films are made to glorify a failed leader, the reality remains unchanged.”
The screenshot was widely circulated on social media and was also re-shared by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) chief spokesperson Saurav Das which later got deleted.
Is the viral Deepika Padukone story genuine?
No. A verification of Deepika Padukone’s official Instagram account shows that she has not posted or shared any statement related to Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike or the student protests organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
The viral screenshot is digitally manipulated and falsely attributed to the actor.
Several Bollywood celebrities have extended support
While Deepika has remained silent on the issue, several Bollywood personalities have publicly appealed to Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike while expressing solidarity with his concerns.
Actor Omi Vaidya, known for 3 Idiots, urged Wangchuk to prioritise his health. Soni Razdan, Shabana Azmi, Abhay Deol, Swara Bhasker, Zeenat Aman, and Prakash Raj have also shared messages supporting the activist and requesting him to end his fast.
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Soni Razdan wrote that the country needs Wangchuk to “live to fight another day,” while Shabana Azmi appealed to him to end the hunger strike, saying the nation needed his guidance and leadership.
As of now, Deepika Padukone has made no public statement on the issue through her verified social media accounts.
FAQs
Q1. Did Deepika Padukone post about Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike?
No. The viral Instagram Story is fake. Deepika Padukone has not shared any post or statement about Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike.
Q2. Which Bollywood celebrities have supported Sonam Wangchuk?
Celebrities including Omi Vaidya, Soni Razdan, Shabana Azmi, Abhay Deol, Swara Bhasker, Zeenat Aman and Prakash Raj have publicly expressed support and urged Wangchuk to prioritise his health.
