Twitter battle rages over boycotting Deepika’s latest film ‘Chhapaak’

New Delhi, January 8

A day after Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone visited JNU to express solidarity with the students who were attacked by a mob, a controversy erupted with #boycottchhapaak trending on Twitter and even a BJP MP calling for boycotting her latest film.

‘Chhapaak’ is the upcoming movie of Padukone based on an acid attack survivor.

South Delhi BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri on Wednesday asked people to boycott ‘Chhapaak’ for her support to the “tukde-tukde gang”. 

Read more

• Why BJP is persisting with its CAA pitch
• Deepika Padukone visits JNU to express solidarity with students

Bidhuri said a Bollywood star is supposed to give a “positive message” to youth in the country through movies instead of being seen with those who are against the country.

Padukone on Tuesday visited JNU and met students who were injured in an attack by masked men and women on Sunday last.

Meanwhile, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said not only artistes, even a common man can go anywhere to express his opinion and there cannot be any objection over it.

More power to you @deepikapadukone 🙏🏻 Can’t wait to watch #Chappak tonight. United we stand 🙏🏻 🇮🇳

— bhumi pednekar (@bhumipednekar) January 8, 2020

Hum Dekhenge #chhapak

— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) January 7, 2020

Thank you @deepikapadukone for giving this movement a mainstream narrative. For using your position to choose the correct path. It always comes to the women and yes, they do deliver! Big love sister! #WeAreWithJNU #noplaceforfascism

— Sayani Gupta (@sayanigupta) January 7, 2020

We live in a time when watching a film feels like an act of rebellion. #ISupportDeepika

— Ankur Pathak (@aktalkies) January 7, 2020

People who carried acid into JNU are boycotting Chapaak

— Amit Tandon (@amitandon) January 7, 2020

Empathy can save this world. #ISupportDeepika pic.twitter.com/qFTWvZv0Se

— वरुण 🇮🇳 (@varungrover) January 7, 2020

As producer today @deepikapadukone would’ve been standing in the preview theatres in Mumbai waiting to hear praise being showered on her maiden production. She instead chose to stand in solidarity with #JNUstudents knowing fully well the ramifications of her actions. #RESPECT

— Nikkhil Advani (@nikkhiladvani) January 7, 2020

#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/cJNfiYfHRc

— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 7, 2020

❤️ swells with pride. #JNUViolence @deepikapadukone pic.twitter.com/yNnZC3ENse

— Vikrant Massey (@masseysahib) January 7, 2020

“Why only artistes, any common man can go anywhere to express his opinion, there cannot be any objection,” Javadekar said when asked about Padukone attending a protest in JNU.

Asked about the call by some BJP functionaries to boycott her upcoming movie, Javadekar said he had not read the remarks and sought to underscore the significance of his statement, saying he is stating so as a minister and regular BJP spokesperson.

Padukone’s decision to attend the protest meeting, even though she did not speak at it, has riled up some people, who have called for a boycott of her movie Chhapaak.

Many people and Bollywood personalities also supported Deepika and lauded her courage for standing up to violent mob and atrocities against JNU students. 

Director Anurag Kashyap even changed his Twitter profile photo to Deepika Padukone meeting the students in JNU. 

I don't have any right to comment against deepika, that she joined tukde tukde gang. It's her personal decision..

But, I have all the right to comment on the shitty movie, which targets one community in order to be in the good books of other one !#boycottchhapaak #UnitedHindu pic.twitter.com/stcmmlYOjh

— Vinita Hindustani🇮🇳 (@Being_Vinita) January 8, 2020

The only reason I'm not giving a call for #boycottchhapaak is because movie is for a good cause. @deepikapadukone did extremely unethical thing by supporting JNU Leftists, the main culprits and the actual attackers! She should be ashamed for playing politics for movie promotion!

— Vikas Pandey (@MODIfiedVikas) January 8, 2020

Modi bhakts are again spreading propaganda
against #Chhapaak movie.

The name of the person who threw acid in movie is Bashir not 'Rajesh'......... https://t.co/ZQYPfmIPdy

— Shadab (@shadabsocialist) January 8, 2020

If you're boasting of a story based on true events which is like almost a Biopic.

You ought to have some responsibility towards everyone to present a truth.
By changing the name of attacker from Nadeem to Rajesh you can't prove anything.

It's just plain disgusting.#Chhapaak

— Shiv (@mewadiii) January 8, 2020

This is really wrong by makers of #Chhapaak... if Acid attacker name was Naeem Khan then the same name should have been used in film as well... Ye Rajesh kya hai??this is totally unacceptable, if the film is based on true incidents then have courage to keep same name as well...

— Rohit Jaiswal (@rohitjswl01) January 8, 2020

Deepika Padukone said “it’s the same fear I felt two years at the time of Padmavat. I’m afraid this should not become new normal”. It’s a statement indeed for students/protestors Keep fighting the fight.

— urbanomed🏳️‍🌈 (@udhan_khatola) January 7, 2020

They had even cancelled their tickets to the film, which opens on Friday and some social media users posted screenshots.

However, it did not take long to figure out that a lot of people who tweeted #boycottchhapaak and posted screenshots were curiously sharing the exact same tickets, seats A8, A9 and A10 for the 6.50 pm show at a theatre in Vadodara.

Many IT cell members have booked and cancelled exact same ticket for #Chappak #boycottchhapaak
Gold - A10, A8, A9 🙆🙆 pic.twitter.com/6TDiGPLeO4

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) January 8, 2020

Another point of controversy gaining traction on Twitter was the name of the attacker who threw acid on Laxmi Agarwal was Nadeem Khan which is purportedly changed to Rajesh in the movie. — Agencies

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