Fact Check: Naseeruddin Shah Jantar Mantar protest video from film screening
- A video of Naseeruddin Shah with his sons at a gathering went viral, with claims he was at a CJP protest in Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
- Multiple fact-checking reports from Times of India, India Today, and Livemint confirm the video is from a film screening, not a protest.
- The veteran actor has not been linked to the CJP protest, and the video's location and context have been misrepresented.
Viral Video Sparks Confusion
A video of veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah walking with his sons, Imaad and Vivaan, through a crowd has been circulating widely on social media. Many users claimed the footage showed the actor attending a protest organised by the Confederation of Progressive Journalists (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
The video quickly gained traction, with some posts suggesting the veteran actor was showing solidarity with the protesting journalists. However, fact-checkers have now stepped in to clarify the actual context of the clip.
What the Video Actually Shows
Multiple news outlets, including The Times of India, India Today, and Livemint, have debunked the claim. Their investigations reveal that the video is not from a protest but from a film screening event.
Reports confirm that Naseeruddin Shah and his sons were attending a screening of his upcoming film, not a political gathering at Jantar Mantar. The location in the video is also different from the iconic protest site in Delhi.
India Today's fact-check unit pointed out that the background and crowd composition do not match the visual markers of a CJP protest. The actor has not made any public statement linking himself to the protest, and no credible evidence supports the viral claim.
How the Misinformation Spread
The false narrative appears to have originated from a social media post that misidentified the event. Users shared the clip without verifying the source, and it was amplified by several accounts.
Livemint noted that the video's metadata and visual cues, such as banners and signage, do not align with any known CJP protest in New Delhi. The actor's known public appearances in recent weeks also do not include any political rallies.
DNA India joined the chorus of fact-checkers, stating plainly that the viral video is not from Delhi and has no connection to the CJP protest. The outlet urged readers to cross-check such claims before sharing them.
Naseeruddin Shah's Political Stance
The veteran actor has been politically vocal in the past, but there is no evidence he participated in this particular protest. His sons, Imaad and Vivaan, are also actors and were likely accompanying him for the film-related event.
Social media users often mistake celebrities at public events for political activism. In this case, the confusion stemmed from a genuine public gathering that bore a superficial resemblance to a protest setting.
Fact-checking organisations have classified the claim as false. The original video was shared out of context, leading to widespread misinterpretation.
What to Watch For
As misinformation spreads rapidly on social media, viewers are advised to verify video content from reliable news sources before forming conclusions. Naseeruddin Shah's team has not issued any official statement on the matter, but the actor continues his promotional work for upcoming projects.