Poonam Pandey's mother feared her fake death stunt: 'Someone might actually kill her'

In February 2024, the industry was taken aback by the news of Poonam Pandey's unexpected passing, which was shared on her social media accounts. The announcement sparked widespread shock and grief among her fans and followers. After almost a year, Vidya Pandey, Poonam Pandey's mother, has spoken out about the controversy surrounding the social media star's staged death. In a recent interview, Poonam's mother revealed that she was the only one aware of the fake stunt's planning. She also admitted to being "scared" due to the situation, fearing for her daughter's safety.

“Media people arrived in our village. There were all sorts of people. Some were saying good things, others weren’t. I was afraid for her. I sat silently the entire day. I was thinking that even if she lied, what if someone kills her?" Poonam’s mother told Instant Bollywood.

“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. In this time of grief, we would request for privacy while we remember her fondly for all that we shared," a note on her Instagram read last year.

A day later, the actress appeared in a video statement, announcing that she was alive. She explained that the purpose of the death announcement was to raise awareness about cervical cancer.

Poonam faced strong criticism from many, including celebrities and fans, for the controversial stunt. The backlash stemmed from the perceived insensitivity and the exploitation of a serious issue.

“The Fake PR stunt by Model and Actress Poonam Pandey is highly wrong. Using the guise of Cervical Cancer for self-promotion is not acceptable. After this news, people may hesitate to believe any Death news in the Indian film industry. No one in the film industry Stoops to such levels for PR. Poonam Pandey’s manager had confirmed the False News, so there should be an FIR against Poonam Pandey and her Manager to prevent anyone exploiting their own death news for personal gains (PR). The entire Indian film industry, along with the entire nation, paid tribute (sic)," the statement read.