Viral: Fake quote ascribed to Raveena Tandon circulates on social media

A quote accredited to Raveena Tandon claims that the Bollywood actor said, “Hindus have lost Pakistan and Bangladesh. Hindus are extinct in Kashmir & becoming minority in Kerala, Assam, etc. Still bigots like Raj Nayak are spreading a myth that Mughal invaders failed to harm Hindus in 1000 years and India will never become an Islamic country.“

The alleged statement was posted on Twitter by a user Prashant Swami (@Prashant_Swami).

Raveena Tandon enlightens and slams bigoted moron Raj Nayak, who made false claim that even after centuries long #Mughal invasion, India did not become Islamic country & #Hindus have been safe !@rajcheerfull @TandonRaveena pic.twitter.com/6fyf75Ki0M

— Prashant Swami (@Prashant_Swami) April 11, 2019

Swami’s tweet was retweeted by right-wing influencer Payal Rohatgi.

The quote was purportedly Tandon’s response to a statement made by Raj Nayak, former COO of Viacom18, who had said, “The Mughal Emperors ruled the Indian Sub Continent for 300 years, we did not become a Muslim Nation. The Britishers ruled India for 200 years, we did not become a Christian Nation. So why are people going around scaring people that our religion is under threat? From whom?”

The Mughal Emperors ruled the Indian Sub Continent for 300 years, we did not become a Muslim Nation. The Britishers ruled India for 200 years, we did not become a Christian Nation. So why are people going around scaring people that our religion is under threat? From whom?

— Raj Nayak (@rajcheerfull) April 2, 2019

Fake quote

A lack of media reports carrying the statement allegedly made by Raveena Tandon hinted that the quote was false. Alt News reached out to the actor for comments.

“This is absolutely false,” Tandon confirmed. “And has happened to me twice before. Just yesterday, I came across another quote and a tweet attributed to me. I don’t know how one can put a stop to this because it completely leads to misinformation, misinterpretation and character assassination,” she added.

The circulation of misinformation in the name of Bollywood actors is commonplace on social media. Fake statements accredited to them, propagating a false narrative, is more often than not believed to be true. Earlier, Amitabh Bachchan, Prakash Raj and Shah Rukh Khan had found themselves in the crosshairs of similar disinformation.