Actress and model Poonam Pandey on Saturday, February 3, appeared in a video to inform that she didn't die because of cervical cancer and clarified that the step was taken to raise an awareness about the disease. The statement has come a day after the Bollywood star's manager issued a notice on her Instagram page claiming that she had died of cervical cancer. Appearing on video, Poonam said, "I'm alive. I didn't die because of Cervical Cancer. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the hundreds and thousands of women who have lost their lives due to Cervical Cancer." She further stated that her "death" post on Instagram yesterday was intended to initiate a conversation about cervical cancer. Poonam said, "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."
Poonam's decision to raise an awareness about cervical cancer has received a mixed reaction on social media. Addressing the feedback, the actress put up a statement in a post stating, "I understand that the recent news of my supposed demise due to Cervical Cancer has taken a minute to digest and I appreciate the warmth and concern that the world has extended in the last 24 hours. This unexpected turn of events, albeit startling, serves a greater purpose. While I do understand how you would have perceived this in bad taste, I also implore you to consider the greater cause. Before passing judgement on the act, I urge you to recognize the alarming concern burdening women worldwide. The sheer lack of awareness surrounding this issue was the mere reason that compelled me to take this unconventional step."
Explaining that her decision to raise an awareness through the news of her demise was a needed one, Poonam said, "Just the day before, the Union Budget highlighted the cause as well but I can say with certainty that only a small fraction would've registered it. It's intriguing how such vital information was at the forefront yet failed to capture the press' attention until the narrative took a dramatic turn with the news of my death to Cervical Cancer. Feel free to express your frustration - I understand. But this is not just lip service, instead I'm committing my entire body to the service of Cervical Cancer." She added, "I want to assure you that this intervention was necessary. The deliberate effort made sure 'Cervical Cancer' got attached to 500 headlines in the same day and if that's the kind of impact we can bring in a day, imagine what all we can do if we decided to come together and speak up. And just in that hope, I am willing to absorb the impact of this moment for the greater good."
Poonam Pandey became a national sensation for her controversial comments ahead of the 2011 Cricket World Cup. She made her big-screen acting debut in Nasha (2013) and was also seen in films across other languages. Poonam's last major appearance was on the reality competition television series, Lock Upp (2022).
