Twinkle's got a theory about India's obsession with fake news

In a satirical blog post published in Times of India, Indian author and former actor Twinkle Khanna questions the reign of fake news at a time when the political climate between Pakistan and India is rife with tension. Twinkle recalls listening to songs from Sanam Teri Kasam, before noticing that Mawra Hocane has been removed from the cover.

"Further digging reveals that other Pakistani actors like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan have been similarly erased from their online posters," she observes in the piece titled Real Paneer, Fake News, and What the Mahatma Never Said. Commenting on the move, she adds, "Not wanting to be left behind in doing my duty as a good citizen, I propose that we get all of Abida Parveen and Farida Khanum's songs redubbed by our very own Dhinchak Pooja. That will really teach the Pakistanis a lesson."

Twinkle's piece also touches upon misinformation regarding Imran Khan's health and the alleged nuclear leak in Pakistan. "Both claims were later refuted," she writes. Relating the surge of fake news with her paneer dilemma, she wonders, "I am baffled. I can test paneer with an iodine solution — but what is the litmus test for the truth?"

She follows the question up with another incident, one concerning her star husband Akshay Kumar. "I come across a flurry of tweets and I call the man of the house and start arguing. 'I just read that you are fighting with Vicky Kaushal over who gets to make a movie on 'Operation Sindoor','" she recalls.

In response, she mentions, Akshay sighed and informed her that it was fake news and promised to call her later, claiming that his leg was on fire. Twinkle confirms that his claim, at least, turned out to be true as he had arrived at the house with a bandage on his calf.

But she can't say the same for speculation about foreign malware threats, airspace shutdowns, and other misinformation surrounding the war. "For all the armchair warriors with their flickering screens goading them to frenzied states, often with manufactured and exaggerated news, war turns into yet another video of explosions and noise. At a distance."

Returning to her paneer metaphor, she says, "Gandhi ji once said, 'Fake paneer messes with your stomach and fake news with your mind, both are equally toxic.'" But she promptly retracts her statement. "All right, he didn't say it, but when everyone is passing off fiction as fact, I thought I should give it a shot as well."

Shared confusion

Twinkle doesn't seem to be the only one holding a grudge against exaggerated stories during this period of uncertainty. Earlier, actor Sonakshi Sinha took to Instagram to express her anger over Indian media's sensational reporting of the conflict.

"Our news channels are a joke! I'm so done with these dramatised visuals and sound effects, the screaming and the shouting!" she fumed.

Questioning the integrity of news reporters, she added, "What are you all doing? Just do your job and report facts as they are. Stop sensationalising war and creating panic for people who are already anxious, for God's sake."

For her followers and fellow citizens, Sonakshi had a simple piece of advice: "People, please just find a reliable news source and stick to that. Stop watching this garbage in the name of news."