Viral Fake: Swachh Bharat Pic Being Shared Claiming Akshay Kumar Joins BJP

A 2017 photo showing actors Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at a public event is viral on Facebook with false context that Kumar has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The picture is being shared with a Hindi caption on the photo, which roughly translates to, “Superstar Akshay Kumar has also joined hands with the BJP.”

It has also gone viral on Facebook groups which support the party.

The actor has been vocal in his support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly on social media. The BJP was examining the possibility of fielding Akshay Kumar from the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency in 2019, the New Indian Express reported in September citing an anonymous BJP leader. However, the actor has not said anything about taking the plunge into politics.

Kumar has made a series of films in recent years which touch upon social issues which are covered by the government's flagship welfare programmes.

Met PM @narendramodi and got the opportunity to tell him about my upcoming 'Toilet-Ek Prem Katha.' His smile at just the title made my day! pic.twitter.com/qbvYrlbM2Y

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) May 9, 2017

The viral image was shot on August 4, 2017 in Lucknow, where Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar were promoting their film Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. It can be found in Press Trust of India’s photo archive.

The event was conducted in a school in Lucknow, where Kumar was appointed as the brand ambassador of the Swachh Bharat Mission in Uttar Pradesh.

The photo was taken when the chief minister and actors were taking a pledge to promote cleanliness and hygiene in the state.

https://youtu.be/kHuuToebPxA