Bollywood actress Richa Chadha has publicly criticized Indian-American author Deepak Chopra following the emergence of his name in the recently released Epstein Files. The spiritual guru's alleged connections with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have sparked widespread controversy and debate across social media platforms.
Deepak Chopra's Clarification on Epstein Association
In response to growing scrutiny, Deepak Chopra took to Twitter (now X) to address the allegations directly. "I am deeply saddened by the suffering of the victims in this case, and I unequivocally condemn abuse and exploitation in all forms," Chopra stated emphatically. He further clarified, "I want to be clear: I was never involved in, nor did I participate in, any criminal or exploitative conduct. Any contact I had was limited and unrelated to abusive activity."
The author acknowledged that certain past email exchanges had surfaced that reflected "poor judgment in tone" and expressed regret about how they might be interpreted today. "My focus remains on supporting accountability, prevention, and efforts that protect and support survivors," he added in his statement. Following the controversy, Chopra has disabled the comment section on his social media posts.
Details from the Epstein Files
According to documents released by the US Department of Justice, Jeffrey Epstein appeared to take particular pride in his spiritual well-being and maintained a long association with Deepak Chopra. The Guardian reports that the new-age spiritual healer met Epstein at least twelve times between 2016 and 2019, primarily for meditation sessions and discussions about funding alternative health research.
Chopra also attended intimate dinner gatherings at Epstein's New York residence, where guests included controversial filmmaker Woody Allen. The author later described these evenings as a "blast" in his communications. One particularly concerning exchange occurred in November 2016 when Epstein sent Chopra a report about a troubled woman with a history of drug use who had allegedly fabricated assault allegations against Donald Trump and Epstein. When Epstein informed Chopra that she had withdrawn her civil case, Chopra simply responded: "Good."
Questionable Email Exchanges
The Epstein Files contain several email exchanges between Chopra and Epstein that have raised eyebrows among investigators and the public alike. In one message dated March 8, 2017, Chopra wrote: "Cells are human constructs. No such thing! Universe is human construct. No such thing. Cute girls are aware when they make noises."
He further elaborated in the same thread: "God is a construct. Cute girls are real." Epstein responded suggestively: "So when the girl says, 'Oh my god'?" These exchanges have prompted serious questions about the nature of their relationship and conversations.
Richa Chadha's Strong Reaction
Bollywood actress Richa Chadha did not mince words when responding to Chopra's clarification statement. She posted her reaction using a vomiting face emoji and a disgusted green face emoji to convey her strong disapproval. Her written response carried significant symbolic weight: "If life makes you a Deepak, be a Mohammad, not Chopra."
The Mohammad Deepak Reference
Chadha's statement references a recent incident from Uttarakhand that captured national attention. In January, gym owner Deepak Kumar from Kotdwar became viral after intervening in a case of communal tension. On January 26, right-wing activists allegedly confronted a 70-year-old Muslim shopkeeper over the word "Baba" in his shop name.
When Kumar stepped in to defend the elderly man and was asked his name, he declared a symbolic Muslim name to oppose religious profiling: Mohammad Deepak. "I said my name was Mohammad Deepak because it was the right thing to do," Kumar told The Indian Express. "I am accountable only to god, and standing up for a man who was being attacked for his religion was the humane thing. I'm not fazed by these protests."
In a surprising development, police later filed FIRs against Kumar and another man over claims of abuse, theft, and unlawful assembly. Public reaction to the incident remains sharply divided, with many hailing Kumar as a real-life hero while others have turned it into a political flashpoint in the state.
Social Media Reactions and Historical Context
Social media users have been actively discussing Chopra's connections to Epstein, with many pointing to a 2009 tweet from the author that reads: "Landed in LA. Will play with babies all day." While it remains unverified whether this post had any relation to Chopra's association with Epstein, it has added fuel to the ongoing controversy.
The Epstein Files continue to reveal disturbing connections between the convicted paedophile and numerous high-profile individuals across various fields. As more documents become public, the scrutiny on figures like Deepak Chopra intensifies, prompting reactions from public figures like Richa Chadha who are using their platforms to express strong opinions about moral accountability and ethical conduct.
