Deepika Padukone-Sonam Wangchuk Viral Post Creates Social Media Buzz
Viral claim linking actor and activist sparks online discussion.
A viral social media screenshot claiming that Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone expressed support for activist Sonam Wangchuk through an Instagram Story has been found to be fake. The manipulated image circulated widely online, with several users claiming that Deepika had shared and later deleted a post supporting Sonam during his hunger strike. However, fact-checkers found no evidence that the actor ever posted such a message from her verified social media account.
The fake screenshot appeared to show Deepika resharing an image of Sonam along with the message, "He is fasting. We are scrolling." It also included a political caption allegedly criticising the current state of democracy and government policies. Investigations into the claim found that there were no archived records, screenshots from reliable sources, or digital traces confirming that the post had ever appeared on Deepika's official Instagram account.
Fact-check reports noted that this was not the first time fabricated social media content involving Deepika had circulated online. Earlier, another edited screenshot falsely claimed that the actor had posted a review of Ranveer Singh's film "Dhurandhar: The Revenge." That claim was also found to be unverified, with no such post appearing on her official accounts.
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The fake claim emerged during Sonam's indefinite hunger strike in Delhi, which had drawn public attention and discussions on social issues. Sonam's protest was linked to demands raised by organisers regarding alleged irregularities and paper leaks in the NEET-UG examination, along with calls for accountability from government authorities. Amid concerns over his health condition, a public interest litigation petition was also filed before the Delhi High Court seeking urgent medical attention.
Several public figures from the film industry, including Anurag Kashyap, Zeenat Aman, Naseeruddin Shah, and Ratna Pathak Shah, have publicly commented on Sonam's situation and expressed concern over his health. However, there is currently no evidence that Deepika shared the viral Instagram Story or issued any public statement supporting the protest. The incident highlights the growing spread of digitally altered content and the importance of verifying social media claims before accepting them as genuine.
Also Read: Shabana Azmi Urges Sonam Wangchuk to End Day 18 Hunger Strike
