The digital space is currently abuzz with a viral screenshot that claims Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone shared an Instagram story in support of educationist and social activist Sonam Wangchuk. The screenshot suggests that the actress expressed her solidarity with Wangchuk's ongoing hunger strike and later deleted the post. However, a detailed investigation into the matter has revealed that these claims are entirely baseless and the viral image is a product of digital manipulation. There is no evidence on Deepika Padukone's official social media handles to suggest that such a story was ever posted.
The Anatomy of the Fake Viral Post
The fabricated screenshot features a re-shared post related to Sonam Wangchuk accompanied by an emotional note allegedly written by Deepika. ' On top of that, the edited image includes statements questioning democracy and political leadership, attributing them to the actress. Fact-checking efforts have confirmed that no such content was ever visible on her official account. The screenshot shows clear signs of tampering, indicating that it was created to mislead the public and link the actress to the ongoing political discourse surrounding the activist's protest.
A History of Misinformation Targeting Deepika
This isn't the first time Deepika Padukone has been the subject of misleading information, while in fact, this marks the second instance in recent months where fake posts have been circulated in her name. Earlier in March, another fraudulent screenshot went viral, claiming that she had posted a review for Ranveer Singh's film titled 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge', while that claim was also later proven to be completely fabricated. Deepika has often found herself at the center of political discussions, most notably following her visit to JNU in 2020, which triggered significant political reactions during the release of her film 'Chhapaak'.
Sonam Wangchuk's Protest and Bollywood's Stance
Sonam Wangchuk is currently on a hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, protesting against the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The protesters are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. While many prominent Bollywood stars have maintained silence on the issue, a section of the film industry has come forward to support Wangchuk, while filmmaker Anurag Kashyap took to social media to call him brave and expressed disappointment over the industry's general silence. Other notable figures who have extended their support include Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Zeenat Aman, Abhay Deol, Rubina Dilaik, Swara Bhasker, and Atul Kulkarni.
Delhi High Court's Intervention on Health Concerns
On Thursday, the Delhi High Court heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the safety and health of Sonam Wangchuk. The activist has been on a hunger strike for the past 19 days at Jantar Mantar, and reports indicate a significant drop in his weight and deteriorating physical strength. The petition urged the court to ensure his safety and provide necessary medical attention. ' The court has ordered that any required medical assistance must be provided to him immediately as his condition remains a matter of concern.