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Sridevi’s Death: When Conspiracy Theories & Insensitive News Coverage Reached A Crescendo

Ever since the forensic reports were released by the Dubai Police on February 26, stating that actress Sridevi’s death was a case of accidental drowning and that traces of alcohol were found in her body, speculations in the media reached a crescendo with reporters and news organisations taking it upon themselves to float their own conspiracy theories. While there were those who held panel discussions and spoke to “experts” on prime-time news shows, the scene was no different on social media.

Speaking to ANI, senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said that he thinks her death is a murder and also alleged that she had an illicit relationship with gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

Former actress and talk show host Simi Garewal felt Sridevi’s death was too similar to singer Whitney Houston’s. Houston died of drug overdose in 2012.

Some, like this user, tweeted a thread of what his “reliable sources” told him and why it’s a murder and he is not afraid to call Sridevi’s death that.

This user also drew parallel between Sunanda Pushkar, the late wife of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, and Sridevi’s death.

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma wrote a letter to her fans on Facebook, alleging that Sridevi was actually “a child trapped in a woman’s body”.

To put an end to the wild speculations, conspiracy theories and insensitive news coverage of her death, several celebrities tweeted with the hashtag #LetHerRestInPeace.

 

Meanwhile, Bollywood as a mark of respect to the late actress, have decided to put their shoots and events on hold.

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi put out a tweet saying that the Holi party she holds every year with her husband Javed Akhtar, has been cancelled.

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma put out a tweet saying that he and southern icon Nagarjuna have postponed the launch of their film and poster to a further date, as they both aren’t in the right state of mind to go ahead with it.

In Mumbai, the makers of 102 Not Out postponed the shoot of a song sequence. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor, both of whom have been Sridevi’s co-stars in several films.

Director Umesh Shukla told IANS, “As a mark of respect to the sudden and untimely demise of our legendary actress Sridevi, we decided to cancel our today’s song shoot of 102 Not Out. May God give peace to her soul and strength to her family.”

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