Right-wing website Swarajya put out a misleading article with false claims of Chhapaak filmmakers changing the name of the acid attacker in the film to hide his Muslim identity.
Produced by Deepika Padukone, who also stars as the leading character in the film, the movie recounts the life of Laxmi Agarwal who survived an acid attack. Days before the release of the film, Twitter users alleged that the filmmakers had changed the name of the acid attacker from Naeem Khan to Rajesh.
The allegations also stated that this was done to hide the Muslim identity of the attacker and portray him as Hindu instead.
Waise why is the perpetrator who threw acid is called 'Rajesh Sharma' in that movie instead of Nadeem Khan, who was the REAL culprit who threw acid on Lakshmi Agarwal?
— Shefali Vaidya (@ShefVaidya) January 8, 2020
Chhapak is based on true Real Life story of Laxmi the Асid Attack victim. Then WHY Perpetrator name changed from Nadeem to Rajesh ?? #boycottchhapaak #boycottdeepikapadukone pic.twitter.com/HqE89L2uak
— Rosy (@rose_k01) January 8, 2020
If a Nadeem who was the man who threw acid on the brave girl on whom the @deepikapadukone movie #Chhappak is based has been changed to Rajesh then it is shameful, deceitful and deliberate. #boycottchappak
— Savio Rodrigues 🇮🇳 (@PrinceArihan) January 8, 2020
These accounts were taken up by Swarajya, who ended up writing an article with the headline, "The Ways Of Bollywood: In Deepika Padukone-Starer Chhapaak, Acid Attacker Naeem Khan Becomes 'Rajesh'." Click here to view an archived version of the article.
The allegation in this case stems from a single source: Internet Movie Database. Users compared the names of characters in the IMDB page to the real life characters, and deduced that the acid attacker's name in the film must be Rajesh.
Swarajya article also mentions that the allegation has stemmed from a speculation, and does not provide a factual basis to it.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy went as far as to threaten legal action, if the name of the accused was changed from Muslim to Hindu.
Ishkaran is drafting a legal notice to Deepika Padukone & producers, if they have changed name of accused from Muslim in real life to a Hindu name.
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) January 8, 2020
That is defamation.
For details follow @ishkarnBHANDARI
This comes less than 24 hours after Padukone made her presence at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, in solidarity with the victims of an attack at the varsity just days earlier by a masked mob.
Also Read Deepika Padukone's JNU Visit: Hashtags Call For Movie Boycott
Fact Check
BOOM spoke to Newslaundry CEO Abhinandan Sekhri, who had already seen a preview of the film. Sekhri confirmed to BOOM that the filmmakers have not changed the religion of any of the characters, but have simply changed the names.
Shocking (or maybe not) that such demonstrable misinformation is carried. I watched the screening last night & can tell you with certainty the religion of attacker has not changed. Film has remained accurate to the case. Opinidia ko bachane ke chakkar mein khud Opindia ban gaye.. https://t.co/Jxc0ZCEDzJ
— Abhinandan Sekhri (@AbhinandanSekhr) January 8, 2020
"The name of the acid attacker has been changed to 'Babbu', short for Bashir," he said. It should be noted that the real name of the attacker was Naeem Khan, who was also called "Guddu".
BOOM called up another film reviewer, who did not wish to be named, who had also seen a preview of the film. He confirmed to BOOM that the name of the acid attacker was indeed Bashir, and not Rajesh.
As many social media users pointed out to Swarajya that their claim was unfounded and misleading, they changed the headline to, "After Outrage Over Chhapaak, Reports Claim Prime Accused Naeem Khan Not Given Hindu Name In Film."
Screenshot of the updated headline.