- It was announced on Friday that 32-year-old Poonam Pandey had died of cancer
- But in a video today she revealed to her 1.3 million fans that she is still alive
- The actress made the hoax to raise awareness about cervical cancer
A Bollywood star and model who lied about her death says she is “proud” of the publicity stunt and says it helped raise awareness of cervical cancer.
Poonam Pandey, 32, announced on Friday that she had died of the disease in a social media message to her 1.3 million fans posted by her management team.
The Instagram post read, “This morning is a tough day for us.” We are deeply saddened to announce that we have lost our beloved Poonam to cervical cancer.
“Every living being that ever came into contact with her was treated with pure love and kindness.”
The news was confirmed by her manager Nikita Sharma, who told local media, “Poonam Pandey, the popular actress and social media personality, tragically passed away this morning from cervical cancer, leaving the entertainment industry in shock and grief.”
Bollywood star Poonam Pandey says she is “proud” of a publicity stunt in which she announced her death, saying it helped raise awareness about cervical cancer
Just a day after the death announcement, the actress set the record straight with a video revealing that she is still alive as part of a cervical cancer awareness campaign
“Her steadfast spirit despite her health challenges was truly remarkable.”
Sharma also highlighted the “critical need for increased awareness and proactive measures against preventable diseases such as cervical cancer.”
News of her death was reported in media outlets around the world, including Web.
But just a day later, the actress set the record straight by posting a video revealing that she was still alive, Sky News reports.
Pandey apologized to her fans and said, “Yes, I faked my death.” Extreme, I know. But suddenly we're all talking about cervical cancer, right?
“I am proud of what my death has achieved.”
“Unlike some other cancers, cervical cancer is completely preventable.” The key is HPV vaccination and early detection tests. We have the resources to ensure that no one loses their life to this disease.
“Let us empower each other with critical awareness and ensure that every woman is informed about the steps to take.”
In a later post, she urged angry fans to “express their frustration,” adding, “But this isn't just lip service, I'm putting my entire body in the service of cervical cancer.”
Pandey, from Kanpur, India, gained considerable notoriety when she promised to strip for Team India if they won the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
She made her Bollywood debut in the 2013 film Nasha, in which she played the lead role of Anita – a seductive drama teacher who embarks on a disastrous romance with a teenage student.
Pandey most recently appeared in the Indian reality show “Lock Upp,” in which celebrities were held in a prison and forced to perform various tasks to gain their freedom.
In addition to her successful modeling career, she also appeared in films such as “Love is Poison”, “Malini & Co” and “The Journey of Karma”.
The post to Pandey's 1.3 million followers on Friday read: “This morning is a tough day for us.” “I am deeply saddened to inform you that we have lost our beloved Poonam to cervical cancer.” “Every living being, Anyone who ever came into contact with her was met with pure love and kindness.”
The model said on Saturday she was “proud of what my death news has achieved”