A model who faked her own death reveals afterwards that she’s ‘proud’ of the publicity stunt she pulled.
Poonam Pandey, who has also appeared in a number of Bollywood films, was reported to have died on Friday, February 2, in a social media post addressed to her 1.3 million followers.
The post, allegedly written by her management team, 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 in contact with her was met with pure love and kindness.”
The news then appeared to be confirmed by the 32-year-old’s manager, Nikita Sharma, who told local media:
“Poonam Pandey, the beloved actress and social media personality, has tragically passed away this morning due to cervical cancer, leaving the entertainment industry in shock and mourning.
“Her unwavering spirit amidst her health struggles was truly remarkable.”
She went on to say there was a ‘critical need for increased awareness and proactive measures against preventable diseases like cervical cancer’.
However, just a day later, after news of her death had spread all over the world, Pandey revealed she was still alive and that her death had actually been a hoax.
Poonam Pandey said in a video on Instagram: “Yes, I faked my demise. Extreme, I know. But suddenly we all are talking about cervical cancer, aren’t we?
“I am proud of what my death news has been able to achieve.
“Unlike some other cancers, cervical cancer is entirely preventable.
“The key lies in the HPV vaccine and early detection tests. We have the means to ensure no one loses their life to this disease.
“Let’s empower one another with critical awareness and ensure every woman is informed about the steps to take.”
After facing backlash from fans, the model told her followers to express their frustration, while promising she would be ‘committing my entire body to the service of cervical cancer’.
The 32-year-old, who hails from Kanpur in India, made her Bollywood debut in 2013, when she starred as Anita, a drama teacher who has an affair with a teenage student, in the film Nasha.
Recently, Poonam Pandey appeared in Indian reality show Lock Upp, which involves celebrities being held in prison and forced to take on different tasks to gain their freedom.