Poonam Pandey had over a million followers on her Instagram.
Poonam Pandey, model and reality TV star, has died of cervical cancer, her manager said today, sparking shock and intense speculation because of the lack of details or any family statement.
The 32-year-old, who was last seen on the reality show Lock Upp, "bravely fought the disease" and died this morning, her team said in a statement.
"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 manager Nikita Sharma said.
"Her unwavering spirit amidst her health struggles was truly remarkable," shared Ms Sharma, highlighting the "critical need for increased awareness and proactive measures against preventable diseases like Cervical Cancer".
Reactions on social media ranged from disbelief to scepticism, with many pointing out that the model was seen on the red carpet at a Goa event just three days ago.
The news of Poonam Pandey's death emerged a day after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced plans for cervical cancer vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14 as part of her interim Budget 2024.
Her media manager Parul Chawla, who was cited by reports as having confirmed her death, later asserted that Poonam Pandey's sister had called "regarding her sudden demise" and that she was waiting for details.
"This is to place on record that we have received a call from her family member (sister) this morning regarding her sudden demise (as posted on her official Insta id ). We are awaiting further information from the family to update everyone. We will release official statement as we receive the further update to be shared," Ms Chawla said.
This morning, the news emerged when the model's team posted on her official Instagram page.
"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 privacy while we remember her fondly for all that we shared," the statement said.
Poonam Pandey shot to fame after posting a video message ahead of the 2011 Cricket World Cup final that she would strip if team India won. She did not, but did post a nude photo when her favourite team Kolkata Knight Riders won the IPL the next year. Over the years, she gathered a legion of social media followers with her controversial statements and was often seen in explicit videos.
In 2022, she drew wide attention with a stint in the Kangana Ranaut-led reality show Lock Upp. She also acted in some films.