Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Bollywood celebrities are one of the easiest targets of misinformation and fake news peddlers. The latest entrant in the club is actor Gagan Malik, who is known for playing the titular role in movie ‘Sri Siddhartha Gautama.’ Several social media users have shared the post claiming that “the great actor” Gagan Malik is “becoming a monk.” However, Newschecker has found that the viral claim is misleading.
Several Facebook users have shared the post claiming that Malik has entered monkhood.
Who Is Gagan Malik?
As per the IMDb, Gagan Malik is an actor and assistant director, known for Rachna No Dabbo Vaisakhi List and Sri Siddhartha Gautama among others. He bagged the Best Actor Award at the World Buddhist Film Festival organised by the UN for his role as Lord Buddha in the 2013 Sinhalese film Sri Siddhartha Gauthama.
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Fact Check/Verification
To verify the veracity of the viral claim that Malik has entered monkhood, Newschecker started by conducting a keyword search for ‘Gagan Malik Monkhood’ on Google and found several news reports on the same.
According to a report by The Bangkok Post, dated February 11, 2022, titled ‘Temple ordains Indian star who played Buddha’, Malik was “was ordained yesterday at 10am with a handful of close friends in attendance and will remain in the monkhood for 15 days until Feb 24.”
We also came across a report by the Pattaya Mail, dated February 11, 2022, titled ‘Bollywood actor Gagan Malik ordained at Buddhist temple in Bangkok.’ According to the report, “The well-known actor was ordained at the Buddhist temple at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. He planned to stay in the monkhood for 15 days until Feb 24.”
Another report by The Thaiger, dated February 10, 2022, stated, “The actor, Gagan Malik, will only live as a monk for 15 days, but he’s serious about spreading Buddhist teachings.”
Newschecker further looked up Malik’s Instagram account and found a post by the actor confirming that he is embracing monkhood for 15 days. He wrote, “Time to know inner self. Trying to learn the essence of Dhamma of Buddha. Becoming a monk for 15 days from 10th Feb to 24th Feb in Thailand. Wat Tha Thong Royal Monastery Bangkok.”
We also found a YouTube video titled ‘Sri Siddhartha Gautama Gagan Malik Ordination Monkhood I Mettavalokanaya’ by Shifu International. The description of the video clearly says that Malik has entered a ‘temporary monkhood.’ It stated, “This is Gagan Malik’s temporarily monkhood until to February 24, 2022, and he will spend the next 15 days as a monk in Bangkok, Thailand.”
Conclusion
The viral claim that Gagan Malik has entered monkhood is misleading. Malik has entered a ‘temporary’ monkhood for 15 days only till February 24 and hasn’t embraced it permanently.
Result: Misleading Content
Sources
Instagram Account Of Gagan Malik
YouTube Channel Of Shifu International
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
