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Actress slammed for ‘acid attack-face’ TikTok challenge

‘This is disgusting! Acid attack is not a makeup look.’

Photo of Tiffanie Drayton

Tiffanie Drayton

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Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone turned one of her movie looks, an acid attack victim, into a challenge on TikTok, and people online are disgusted.

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The challenge was based on Malti, a character from her new movie Chhapaak, which depicts the real-life story and emotional turmoil of Laxmi Agarwal, an Indian acid attack survivor.

In the TikTok video, Padukone asked a makeup artist to copy her favorite looks from three of her movies, Om Shanti Om, Piku, and Chhapaak. The look inspired by Chhapaak was of Malti and consisted of makeup to look like an acid attack victim. Padukone describes this “look” as one of her “favorites.”

Social media users are appalled and are shaming Padukone for her insensitivity and lack of awareness on the issue the movie is supposed to be highlighting.

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Many claim the Bollywood star is trivializing the hardships of acid attack victims by minimizing them to “a look,” simply to use as a promotional stunt for her movie.

“This is disgusting ! Acid attack is not a makeup look deepika. So much for purpose and awareness. Never thought somebody will stoop so low for a hit film,” Twitter user @KangyStan wrote.

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Twitter user @MarcoChaCha8 wrote an open letter to Padukone attacking her for insinuating there is any parallel to makeup and the harsh reality real acid attack survivors face.

“Dear Deepika Padukone, acid attack face isn’t a ‘look’. It’s a sad reality which a person has to live with rest of your life .. You can’t wash it off & no one got money like you get plastic surgeries. Your movie is bombing, it doesn’t mean you stop being sensitive & Human,” MarcoChaCha8 tweeted.

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Another user, @PrinceArihan, implored Padukone to have more respect for Malti.

“This is deplorable. There is no fun mocking the face of acid victim even it is one of your favourite roles @deepikapadukone. Putting your name as Malti does not make you Malti. Respect her,” PrinceArihan tweeted.

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https://twitter.com/HSrivastava186/status/1218473626380525568

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Another user, @piyapiyanka, called Padukone out for  “fake crying” during an interview in which she seemed to genuinely empathize with acid attack victims.

“Imagine fake crying during every interview acting like you understand the pain of acid victims and when the movie flops you start making fun of acid attack face only deepika can relate She has no respect for acid attack victims so gross shame on you,” piyapiyanka tweeted.

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This is not the first time Padukone has been criticized over her promotion of Chhapaak. Before the movie’s release date, Padukone visited Jawaharlal Nehru University, where acid attacks recently took place, to stand in solidarity with the students. Her visit was met with backlash.

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H/T opindia

 
The Daily Dot