Bollywood Backs Deepika

The film fraternity has lauded the actor’s decision to take a stand on the JNU issue

- Piya Hingorani and Radhika Avasthi

Twenty four hours after Bollywood celebrities protested at Mumbai’s Gateway of India against the violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), actor Deepika Padukone took it a step further. Deepika reached Delhi’s JNU campus and stood in solidarity with the students. Spending 10 minutes at the campus, Deepika met the university’s student union president Aishe Ghosh who was injured in Sunday’s violence and also visited the Sabarmati T-point that witnessed the most brutal mob violence.

Soon after the news of Deepika making an appearance at JNU broke, people on social media were divided in their opinion. On one hand, people lauded the actor for taking a stance and condemning the attack. Senior Congress leader Milind Deora slammed BJP for insinuating that her visit was in connection with the promotion of her upcoming film Chhapaak. Deora tweeted: ‘@deepikapadukone doesn’t owe anyone an explanation for her decision to visit #JNU. Neither does @akshaykumar for waving an ABVP flag. Entertainers, like the rest of us, are entitled to their opinions & are free to choose sides. Better than being a fence sitter any day!’