Fact-Check: Old photo of Kunal Kemmu, Soha Ali Khan performing puja shared with false claim after recent attack on Saif Ali Khan
New Delhi, Jan 27 (Vaidehi Jahagirdar/Abhinav Gupta PTI Fact Check): A photo of Bollywood actors and couple Kunal Kemmu and Soha Ali Khan was recently shared on social media with users claiming that it showing them praying for the well-being of latter’s brother and actor Saif Ali Khan, who was recently injured in a stabbing incident. The photo was shared on social media after Khan was discharged from Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital. However, an investigation by PTI Fact Check Desk found that the photo dated back to November 2021 and showed Kunal praying with his family on Diwali. The old and unrelated photo was shared on social media as recent with a false claim.
The 54-year-old actor suffered stab injuries in the attack last week and had to undergo emergency surgery at Lilavati Hospital.
Claim
An X (formerly Twitter) user shared an photo on January 24, claiming it showed Bollywood actor Kunal Kemmu, along with his wife and fellow actor Soha Ali Khan, praying for Saif Ali Khan's well-being after the latter was discharged from the hospital following a stabbing incident.
The user shared the image with the caption, "Taimur, Jahangir's uncle and Saif Ali Khan's brother-in-law, Kunal Kemmu, is thanking God for his brother-in-law's safe return from the hospital. Soha Ali Khan is also seen with folded hands beside him."
Here is a link and an archive link to the post, and below is the screenshot of the same.
Investigation
The Desk ran the viral image through Google Lens and found it was shared by several other users with a similar claim. Two such posts can be seen here and here, and their archive versions can be found here and here, respectively.
The search results further led us to a report by ABP News dated November 4, 2021. The report contained numerous images of the Bollywood couple, including the viral one, with the caption stating, "Soha Ali Khan's Diwali celebration, performs puja with husband Kunal and daughter Inaaya."
Here is the link to the post, and below is a screenshot of the same.
In the next part of investigation, the Desk conducted a customised keyword search on Google and came across an Instagram post by Kunal Kemmu dated November 4, 2021. In this post, Kemmu shared the same image seen in the viral claim, stating that it was from their Diwali celebrations in 2021.
"To love, light, happiness, and health... Happy Diwali," the caption of the post read.
Here is the link to the post, and below is a screenshot of the same.
Subsequently, the Desk concluded that the image of Kemmu praying along with his wife and daughter was from their Diwali celebrations, dating back to 2021.
CLAIM
Kunal Kemmu, along with his wife Soha Ali Khan and daughter Inaaya Naumi, prayed for Saif Ali Khan's well-being after his discharge from the hospital following the stabbing incident.
FACT
The image photo was from their Diwali celebrations, dating back to November, 2021.
CONCLUSION
Multiple social media users shared an image claiming it showed Bollywood actor Kunal Kemmu, his wife Soha Ali Khan, and their daughter Inaaya Naumi praying for Saif Ali Khan's well-being after his discharge from the hospital. However, the Desk found that the image is from their Diwali celebrations dated November 4, 2021.
(This story was originally published by PTI, as part of the Shakti Collective. Except for the headline/excerpt/opening introduction para, this story has not been edited by Deccan Chronicle staff.)
