Fact Check: No, Deepika did not wear pro-farmers t-shirt for NCB questioning
By Newsmeter Network Published on 29 Sep 2020 4:55 AM GMT
Hyderabad: A photo of Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone wearing a black t-shirt with the text "I STAND WITH INDIAN FARMERS" written on it has gone viral on social media. Social media users claimed that she wore the t-shirt when she appeared before the NCB for questioning in the drug case. This comes after farmers' unions protested against the Centre's recent agriculture reform Bills.
A Facebook user shared the photo and wrote, "When you report for questioning to the NCB, because you stood in solidarity with JNU... and carry swag on your T-shirt..." (archived post)
Below is a screenshot of the post:
https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10164227604430176&set=a.10150204344595176&type=3&theater
FACT CHECK:
This claim is FALSE.
NewsMeter performed a reverse image search and found the same picture in the entertainment gallery of The Indian Express from 2018. However, in these pictures, Deepika is seen in a plain black t-shirt without any text printed on it. This proves that the viral image has been morphed.
Below is a picture comparison:
A few Bollywood actors, including Deepika Padukone, were summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in connection with the ongoing Bollywood drug case. Many media outlets had shared photos and videos of Deepika, wearing a mask, arriving for questioning on 26 September.
Therefore, not only is the viral photo old and unrelated to the drug case, but it has also been morphed. Thus, the claim is FALSE.
