Deepika Padukone joins JNU students in solidarity, a promotional stunt for this Friday or a genuine support?

Amid

criticism over top Bollywood celebrities maintaining silence over the violence

in JNU, Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone joined the protesting students at the

JNU’s Sabarmati hostel.

According to

reports, Deepika visited JNU around 7:45 pm and stayed on campus for about 10

minutes. The actor left without saying anything, however, she was photographed

meeting JNU Student’s Union president Aishe Ghosh, who was injured in the

violence that took place at the university on Sunday.

Her visit to

the JNU campus has received both criticism and appreciation on social media

with some calling up for a “boycott” of her films and others

appreciating the actor for her “bold” move. While at one end,

#boycottchhapaak emerged as the top trend in India on Tuesday, the hashtag

#ISupportDeepika was trending as well with several users tweeting in the

actor’s support.

BJP leader

Tajinder Singh Bagga tweeted asking if people should boycott her film for

supporting the ‘Tukde Tukde Gang and Afzal Gang’.

Some have

termed Padukone’s visit to the JNU as a stunt to promote her film Chhapaak, which

is releasing this Friday.

Several other users have come in Padukone’s support for showing up at the protest against the violence in JNU.

Padukone is

among the few top Bollywood celebrities who have offered their support to the

ongoing students’ protests. On Monday night, a slew of Bollywood celebrities

such as directors Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar and actors

Taapsee Pannu and Richa Chadha had turned up at Carter Road in Mumbai in

solidarity with those protesting against the violence at the JNU.