Anyone in India who has witnessed the rise of 2010's Hindi pop-culture, would be familiar with the name Poonam Pandey. A teen model turned erotic actress, Poonam Pandey grabbed attention in 2011 when she declared that she would strip for the Indian National Cricket team if it won the world cup that year. Post India's win, Poonam Pandey posted a video of her stripping at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium at night. 

The following year i.e. in 2012, Poonam Pandey posed nude after Shah Rukh Khan's team Kolkatta Knight Riders won the Indian Premiere League. Poonam Pandey made her Bollywwod debut with a teen-erotic film titled Nasha in 2013. The film opened to largely negative reviews but went on to gross double its budget. 

Ever since Poonam Pandey's name has been associated with bold and controversial moves on the internet. On February 2, 2024 the official Instagram handle of Poonam Pandey's put up a post that read that the 32 year old actress cum model was no more, and that she had lost her life to cervical cancer. 

On February 03, 2024, Poonam posted multiple videos on her Instagram page, saying she is sorry for 'causing hysteria.' “I am sorry I caused hurt. My intention? To shock everyone into the conversation we aren’t having enough. Which is cervical cancer. Yes, I faked my death. Extreme, I know, but suddenly we all are talking about cervical cancer,” Pandey said.

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A post shared by Poonam Pandey (@poonampandeyreal)

Admist heavy criticisms on social media that faking a death to spread awareness about the disease is not just crying wolf but also sends the wrong precedence that one does not die of cervical cancer,  Poonam Pandey has stuck by her awareness campaign and posted: 

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A post shared by Poonam Pandey (@poonampandeyreal)