Deep Sidhu, 36

Actor-turned-activist

Lesser-known Punjabi movie actor Deep Sidhu has emerged as the ‘villain’ of the farmers’ stir for he is being accused of orchestrating the plan to hoist a religious flag at Red Fort on the Republic Day. The 36-year-old Punjabi actor-turned-activist, Sidhu, who is also a qualified lawyer, invited the anger of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of farm unions leading the protests on the borders of the national capital. He is being labeled as a “traitor” and an “agent” of the RSS and government secret agencies. Two weeks ago, he was summoned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with a sedition case against Us-based banned pro-khalistan outfit Sikhs For

Justice. He campaigned for Bollywood actor Sunny Deol when he fought the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Gurdaspur constituency on a BJP ticket. Sidhu completed his graduation from Punjabi University, Patiala, and later completed a degree in Law. After winning the Kingfisher Model Hunt award in modelling, he decided to work in films and started his career with ‘Ramta Jogi’ in 2015, produced by actor Dharmendra. He shot to

fame with the 2018 movie ‘Jora Das Numbria’, in which he played the lead role of a young gangster. Around six months ago, he started a commentary on the issues of Sikhs and Punjab through Facebook live and at times criticised the RSS and Modi government. He, along with Punjabi singers, joined the farmers’ stir at Shambu barrier on September 25. However, the singers and many other activists disassociated themselves from him after he launched a separate morcha, saying his act was a conspiracy to torpedo the agitation. Skh intellectual Ajaypal Singh Brar, who was his associate during Shambu Morcha, said they have already distanced themselves from him. "The way he was acting in the stir, we could not go with him, so we parted ways with him," he added.ate reply with Interesting.