Shilpa Shirodkar Recalls Death Hoax Orchestrated 30 Years Ago for Film Promotion: "It Was Too Much"

Veteran Bollywood actress Shilpa Shirodkar, known for her work in the 90s and later appearances on television and reality shows like Bigg Boss, recently opened up about a disturbing and bizarre chapter from her career—a fake news stunt declaring her dead, orchestrated as a promotional strategy for a film.

The Shocking Rumor

The incident occurred during the release of her 1995 film Raghuveer, in which she starred opposite Sunil Shetty. While shooting in Manali, Shilpa’s family back home in Mumbai was left shattered by newspaper headlines that falsely reported:
"Shilpa Shirodkar shot dead."

At that time, with no mobile phones, communication was limited. Her father made frantic calls to the hotel in Manali, desperately trying to reach her.

“When I came back to my hotel room, I saw 20–25 missed calls. My parents were panicking. That’s when the team informed me it was a publicity stunt for the film,” Shilpa shared in a recent interview with Pinkvilla.

A Stunt Gone Too Far

While the fake news created a major buzz and perhaps boosted the film's publicity, Shilpa was left shaken and deeply upset. Although she refrained from lashing out back then—possibly due to the film’s success—she now admits:

“It was too much. I understand the need for promotion, but involving fake death news was insensitive.”

This resurfaced memory has again brought into question the ethics of extreme marketing tactics used in the film industry during that era.

Return to Films with 'Jatadhara'

Now at 51, Shilpa is making a comeback with the film ‘Jatadhara’, expected to release around Navratri 2025. After years away from the silver screen, fans are excited to see her back in action.