Fact Check: 'Chhapaak' trends on Twitter- and no its screen villain is neither 'Nadeem' nor 'Rajesh'
New Delhi, Jan 8: A day after Deepika Padukone visited the JNU campus to express solidarity with students who had been attacked, her film "Chhapaak" made another splash on Wednesday over the name of its antagonist.
While Deepika was the focus of many a discussion on social media and beyond for showing up at a public meeting in the university, the film based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, was also making news for quite another reason.
In what could well be a storm in a 'Twitter cup', "Nadeem Khan" and "Rajesh" began trending on the microblogging site after a magazine article claimed the name of the antagonist had been changed. By 4 pm, 'Nadeem Khan' clocked close to 60,000 tweets and 'Rajesh' close behind with 50,000.
In 2005, Laxmi was disfigured for life when a man called Nadeem Khan and three others allegedly hurled acid at her in Delhi's upscale Khan Market.
In the film based on her life, the narrative remains the same but the names have been changed. So, Laxmi is 'Malti' Agarwal and Nadeem becomes 'Babboo' aka 'Bashir Khan'.
On Wednesday, Swarajya magazine wrote an article headlined, "The Ways Of Bollywood: In Deepika Padukone-Starrer Chhapaak, Acid Attacker Naeem Khan Becomes Rajesh'."
"As part of a backlash against Padukone's JNU 'meet and greet', social media users researched the names of the characters involved in the movie Chhapaak and conspicuously found the name of main perpetrator Naeem Khan absent," the article alleged.
But in the Meghna Gulzar directed film, there is no mention of any Nadeem or Naeem Khan. Moreover, Rajesh is the name of Malti's boyfriend.
Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Babul Supriyo jumped into the controversy, saying it was another example of "absolute hypocrisy".
"...When you say all characters are fictitious and don't have any resemblance with living beings and all of that, this is absolute hypocrisy. When you change the name which also changes the religion, it has been done very deliberately," Supriyo told a TV channel when asked to comment on the controversy.
South Delhi BJP MP Ramesh Biduri also called for a boycott of the movie.
With Deepika grabbing attention by going to JNU, many appreciated her 'silent solidarity' but others criticised her for "supporting the Leftists" and said it was a promotional stunt ahead of the release.
"#Boycott Chhapaak" was trending on Twitter as was "#ISupportDeepika".
#Chhapaak trends on Twitter - and no its screen villain is neither 'Nadeem' nor 'Rajesh'.
— Radhika Sharma (@KhayalaBibi) January 8, 2020
Unlike the #FakeNews peddlers, I was fortunate to watch a special screening of the film last evening.
Here goes, my report for @PTI_News. https://t.co/HhNIEjRDya
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Padma Shri awardee Baba Sivanand passes away in Varanasi
Varanasi, May 4 (PTI): Padma Shri spiritual guru Baba Sivanand died here of health complications. His disciples claim he was 128.
Baba Sivanand had been admitted to BHU Hospital on April 30 with some health issues. He died Saturday night.
His body has been kept at his residence in Kabirnagar Colony for the people to pay their last respects. His last rites will be performed later this evening, the disciples said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X hailed the guru for inspiring generations and termed his death an "irreparable loss."
"It is extremely saddening to hear about the demise of Shivanand Baba Ji, a yoga practitioner and resident of Kashi. His life dedicated to yoga and sadhana will continue to inspire every generation of the country. He was also awarded Padma Shri for serving the society through yoga.
"Shivanand Baba's departure to Shivaloka is an irreparable loss for all of us Kashi residents and millions of people who draw inspiration from him. I pay my tribute to him in this hour of grief," he said.
Born on August 8, 1896, in the Sylhet district of present-day Bangladesh, Baba Sivanand lost his parents to starvation when he was just six years old, they said.
Since then, he followed a life of austerity and discipline, eating only half a stomach of food, they said.
After his parents' demise, he was taken under the care of Omkarnand, who became his guardian and mentor. It was under his guidance that Baba Sivanand received spiritual education and life teachings.
Recognised for his contributions to yoga and spirituality, Baba Sivanand was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2022.
His disciples credited his longevity and robust health to his disciplined lifestyle. They said he would wake up at 3 am every day, practice yoga, and manage all his chores by himself.
He ate only boiled food and slept on a mat. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid his tributes to the yoga guru and prayed for his salvation.
"It is very sad that famous yoga guru of Kashi 'Padma Shri' Swami Shivanand ji, who made an unparalleled contribution in the field of 'Yoga', passed away. Humble tribute to him!" he wrote on X.
"Your sadhana and yoga-filled life is a great inspiration for the whole society. You dedicated your whole life to the expansion of yoga. I pray to Baba Vishwanath to grant salvation to the departed soul and give strength to his bereaved followers to bear this immense grief. Om Shanti!" he added.
योग साधक और काशी निवासी शिवानंद बाबा जी के निधन से अत्यंत दुख हुआ है। योग और साधना को समर्पित उनका जीवन देश की हर पीढ़ी को प्रेरित करता रहेगा। योग के जरिए समाज की सेवा के लिए उन्हें पद्मश्री से सम्मानित भी किया गया था।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 4, 2025
शिवानंद बाबा का शिवलोक प्रयाण हम सब काशीवासियों और उनसे… pic.twitter.com/nm9fI3ySiK
