All eyes are on activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Today marks the 19th day of his fast, and Sonam hasn't eaten anything. An expert team of doctors is monitoring him, but his condition is worsening day by day.
Several celebrities have come out in support and urged Sonam to eat. Many have even visited him at the protest site. Celebs including Zeenat Aman, Soni Razdan and Vir Das have also posted on social media expressing concern over his health.
Fact Check: Did Deepika Padukone post in support of Sonam Wangchuk?
Amid celebrities supporting Sonam, a screenshot allegedly showing Deepika Padukone's Instagram Story has gone viral. The viral screenshot appears to show Deepika re-sharing a post featuring Sonam Wangchuk with the text, "He is fasting. We are scrolling." It further claims that she added the caption, "Why is no one speaking about this? We are living through the darkest hour of democracy. No matter how many films are made to glorify a failed leader, the reality remains unchanged."
As the screenshot went viral, many netizens praised Deepika for allegedly speaking out. But did she actually post the Story? Here's the truth behind the viral claim.
As per Reddit, some users claimed Deepika briefly uploaded the Story before deleting it within minutes. However, the truth is that Deepika never shared the reported Instagram Story. A check of the actor's verified Instagram account, along with archived social media activity, reveals no trace of the post, indicating that the viral claim is unsubstantiated.
The screenshot is AI-generated, and there is no evidence that Deepika ever posted or later deleted the Story. As things stand, the viral claim is false.
OMG!!!! As per reddit, Deepika Padukone posted a story supporting Sonam Wangchuk, where she criticized the BJP, but later deleted it. What could be the reason? Did Ranveer Singh make her delete the story? https://t.co/Pw0lWrVUty pic.twitter.com/pdIT6SL6To
— a (@qaayadese) July 15, 2026
This isn't the first time Deepika has found herself at the centre of AI-generated misinformation. Earlier this year, in March, a fake screenshot claiming to show the actor reviewing Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar: The Revenge went viral. In reality, she had not posted anything.
Deepika Padukone posted story to support Sonam Wangchuk but deleted the story after some time because Ranveer Singh is RSS supporterpic.twitter.com/LaindKOqAG https://t.co/V99QI4MVwG
— a (@iahaanx) July 15, 2026
The Cockroach Janata Party has been protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi since June 6, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities and leaks in the NEET examination. Wangchuk joined the protest and began his indefinite hunger strike on June 28.
The Delhi High Court is set to hear a public interest litigation raising concerns over the activist's health. The petition, filed on Wednesday, seeks urgent medical intervention, including his admission to a hospital, ensuring he receives the required treatment, and force-feeding if necessary.
Meanwhile, Deepika is on maternity break as she will be welcoming her second child this year.
