Actor Richa Chadha has strongly reacted to Indian American author Deepak Chopra after his name appeared in the recently released Epstein files. Chopra later issued a statement denying any wrongdoing, but Richa criticised his response on social media, sparking a fresh debate online.
The Epstein files, which include millions of documents, emails, images and videos, detail the criminal activities of American financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and list several public figures. Among the names mentioned was Deepak Chopra, after emails allegedly showing communication between him and Epstein surfaced online.
One email, in particular, went viral for its controversial tone. After facing backlash, Chopra released a statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying he condemned abuse and exploitation in all forms and was never involved in any criminal activity. He admitted that some of his past email exchanges showed “poor judgment in tone” and said he regretted them. He added that his focus remains on accountability and supporting survivors.
Richa Chadha re-shared Chopra’s statement and criticised him sharply. She wrote, “If life makes you a Deepak, be a Mohammad, not Chopra,” followed by vomiting emojis. She also shared another post by an X user who alleged that Chopra had asked her to meet him at night when she was 16, though no official complaint related to this claim has been confirmed.
Richa’s comment referred to a recent viral incident from Kotdwar, Uttarakhand. A gym owner and bodybuilder named Deepak Kumar was seen standing up against a group allegedly linked to the Bajrang Dal, who were harassing an elderly Muslim shopkeeper. The group reportedly asked the shopkeeper to change the name of his store, Baba School Dress, claiming it caused confusion with a nearby temple.
In a video that went viral, Deepak Kumar confronted the group and defended the shopkeeper. When asked his name, he replied, “My name is Mohammad Deepak,” a moment that many praised online as an act of courage and unity. Police later registered multiple cases related to the incident, including one against Deepak for allegedly using threatening language, according to PTI.
On the work front, Richa Chadha was last seen in Fukrey 3 and Heeramandi. She will next appear in Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai and a biopic on Silk Smitha.