- Poonam Pandey, 32, died of cancer on Friday
- But today she revealed in a video to her 1.3 million fans that she is still alive
- The actress carried out 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 has helped raise awareness of cervical cancer.
Poonam Pandey, 32, was announced as having died from the disease on Friday, in a social media message to her 1.3 million fans posted by her management team.
The Instagram post read: “This morning is hard for us. Deeply saddened to inform you that we have lost our beloved Poonam to cervical cancer.
“Every living form that ever came into contact with her was met with pure love and kindness.”
The news was confirmed by her manager Nikita Sharma, who told local media, “Poonam Pandey, the much-loved actress and social media personality, tragically passed away this morning due to cervical cancer, leaving the entertainment industry in shock and mourning .
Bollywood star Poonam Pandey says she is ‘proud’ of publicity stunt announcing her death, saying it has helped raise awareness of cervical cancer
Just a day after the death announcement, the actress set the record straight with a video revealing she was still alive, as part of a campaign to raise awareness of cervical cancer.
“Her steadfast spirit during her health challenges was truly remarkable.”
Sharma also emphasized the “critical need for greater awareness and proactive measures against preventable diseases such as cervical cancer.”
News of her death was reported in media around the world, including MailOnline.
But just a day later, the actress set the record straight with a video revealing she was still alive. Sky News reports.
Pandey apologized to her fans and said, “Yes, I faked my demise. Extreme, I know. But suddenly we’re all talking about cervical cancer, right?
‘I am proud of what my death news has been able to achieve.
‘Unlike some other forms of cancer, cervical cancer is completely preventable. The key lies in the HPV vaccine and early detection tests. We have the tools to ensure that no one loses their life to this disease.
‘Let us critically inform each other and ensure that every woman is aware of the steps to be taken.’
In a later post, she urged disgruntled fans to “express your frustration,” adding, “bBut this is not just lip service, but I am putting my entire body at the service of cervical cancer.’
Pandey, from Kanpur, India, achieved considerable fame when she promised to strip for Team India if they won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011.
She made her Bollywood debut in 2013 in the 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 last appeared in the Indian reality show ‘Lock Upp’, in which celebrities were kept in a prison and forced to perform various tasks to earn their freedom.
She has also appeared in films like Love is Poison, Malini & Co and The Journey of Karma, besides having a successful modeling career.
The message to Pandey’s 1.3 million followers on Friday read: ‘This morning is a tough one for us. “Deeply saddened to inform you that we have lost our beloved Poonam to cervical cancer. “Every living form that ever came into contact with her was met with pure love and kindness.”
The model said on Saturday that she was ‘proud of what my death news has been able to achieve’