Fact Check: What's the truth behind Deepika Padukone's viral Instagram story on Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike?

Education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has been making headlines as his hunger strike entered its 19th day. Protesting over examination-related issues, Wangchuk has received support from politicians, activists, and several members of the film industry.

As discussions around his protest grew on social media, a screenshot claiming that actor Deepika Padukone had shared an Instagram Story in support of him also started circulating online. The image quickly went viral, with many users claiming that the actor had later deleted the post.

But is the viral screenshot genuine? The answer is no.

Fact Check: Deepika Padukone Never Shared the Viral Story

The viral claim is false. There is no evidence that Deepika Padukone ever posted the Instagram Story that is now being widely shared across social media platforms.

A review of the actor's verified Instagram account shows that no such Story was uploaded. Multiple reports have also confirmed that the screenshot is digitally manipulated and does not represent an actual post from Deepika.

What Does the Fake Screenshot Claim?

The edited image appears to show Deepika resharing a post related to Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike. It also includes messages such as, "He is fasting. We are scrolling," along with political comments questioning the silence around the protest.

Because the screenshot closely resembles Instagram's Story format, many users believed it to be real. However, there is no official record or archived version of the alleged Story.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cockroach Janta Party (@cockroachjantaparty)

Not the First Fake Post Linked to Deepika

This is the second time in recent months that Deepika Padukone has been falsely linked to a viral social media post.

Earlier this year, another fabricated screenshot claimed that she had shared a review of Ranveer Singh's film Dhurandhar: The Revenge. That claim was also debunked after it was found that no such post had ever appeared on her official account.

Celebrities Who Have Actually Supported Sonam Wangchuk

While Deepika Padukone has not publicly commented on Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike, several celebrities have openly extended their support.

Veteran actors Zeenat Aman and Naseeruddin Shah have urged the government to engage in dialogue with Wangchuk. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap called him a "braveheart" and spoke about the need for greater public attention to the protest.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sonam Wangchuk (@wangchuksworld)

Actors Abhay Deol, Swara Bhasker, Ratna Pathak Shah, Soni Razdan, Shabana Azmi, filmmaker Prakash Jha, and actor Omi Vaidya have also voiced support for the activist and his movement.

Fact Check Result: False.

The screenshot circulating online is fabricated, and none of the quoted statements have appeared on her verified social media accounts. While Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike has received support from several well-known personalities, Deepika Padukone is not among the celebrities who have publicly commented on the issue.

- PTC PUNJABI