“Is that a back handed compliment @timesofindia or did you genuinely get confused between the ‘real’ and ‘reel’ Charles Sobhraj?” Hooda said in a tweet and shared a picture of the news story published on the print edition of the Times of India on December 22.

Charles Sobhraj, a convicted killer who police believe murdered more than 20 western backpackers on the “hippie trail” through Asia in the 1970s and 1980s, arrived in France on Saturday after nearly two decades behind bars in Nepal. The Supreme Court in Kathmandu ruled Wednesday that Sobhraj, 78, who has been in jail in the Himalayan republic since 2003 for two killings decades earlier, should be immediately released and deported within 15 days.

The news clip carried the main picture of the actor from a scene from his movie Main Aur Charles—a biopic of the serial killer—released in 2015.

Hooda, who is famous for his method acting, was praised for his role in the movie. He had met with the serial killer after the release of the trailer in Khatmandu jail, Indian media reports.

But, many social media users were not surprised to see the mistake and lauded the actor for his performance, giving the impression that “anyone can get confused”.

“Hahahahhahahah u were brillaint in it so im not surprised,” said one user.

Someone thought it was an “achievement”.

There was also one piece of advice to take as a compliment.

What the editor might be feeling after this?

Sarcasm at its peak