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.