Key Points
- Aaj Tak and anchor Anjana Om Kashyap falsely reported Dharmendra’s death on November 11, 2025
- Dharmendra’s family, led by Hema Malini and Esha Deol, immediately debunked the death news
- 89-year-old veteran actor was hospitalized but discharged from Breach Candy Hospital on November 12, 2025, at 7:30 AM
- Viral revenge trolling includes fake death hoax videos of Anjana Om Kashyap with funeral garlands on her photos
- Several BJP leaders including UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted condolence messages based on fake news
- Sunny Deol issued legal threats against media channels for premature and false death reporting
- Hospital staff arrested for secretly filming Dharmendra in unconscious state and circulating private family video
- Netizens divided on harsh trolling, some supporting revenge videos while others condemning two wrongs
- Family released official statement on November 12 requesting privacy and thanking public for prayers
- Incident exposes TRP-driven journalism prioritizing speed over verification and fact-checking
New Delhi: On November 11, 2025, panic rippled through Bollywood and social media when several news outlets, prominently including Aaj Tak, reported that veteran actor Dharmendra had passed away at age 89. The news channel’s senior anchor, Anjana Om Kashyap, aired what appeared to be a full story on the legendary actor’s alleged demise, complete with obituary-style coverage detailing his illustrious career spanning over six decades in Indian cinema.
The false report spread rapidly across digital platforms, with other media websites picking up the story and running their own versions. Within hours, condolence messages flooded social media from fans, film industry colleagues, and even prominent political figures. BJP leaders, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, posted tribute messages having falling for the unverified news.
However, the reports were completely false. Dharmendra was indeed hospitalized at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai for a health issue, but he was alive, responding to treatment, and in stable condition. The premature death announcement represented a catastrophic failure of journalistic verification and fact-checking, prioritizing speed and TRP ratings over accuracy.
Family’s Swift Rebuttal and Anger
Dharmendra’s family moved quickly to quash the false reports, with his wife Hema Malini and daughter Esha Deol taking to social media to clarify that the veteran actor was alive and recovering. BJP MP Hema Malini expressed fury at the media’s irresponsible reporting, sharply criticizing news channels for spreading unverified information about her husband’s health.
Esha Deol posted on her social media accounts, stating that the media appeared to be in too much of a hurry and warned journalists against spreading fake news in their quest to break stories faster than competitors. Her statement emphasized that Dharmendra was responding well to treatment and urged the media to show respect for the family’s privacy and emotions during this difficult time.
The family’s official statement, released after Dharmendra’s discharge, expressed deep disappointment with the media’s behavior, describing the false death reports as “extremely disrespectful and irresponsible.” The statement thanked well-wishers for their prayers and concern but firmly requested that both media and public refrain from further speculation and respect the family’s need for privacy as the 89-year-old actor continued his recovery at home.
सुबह सुबह दुखद खबर 🚨😭
— AYODHYA WALE ❣️ (@WaleAyodhy70737) November 13, 2025
गोदी मीडिया की पत्तलकार अंजना ओम कश्यप अब हम लोगों के बीच नहीं रही.
अब आज के बाद हम लोगों तक झूठी खबरें कौन पहुंचाएगा!! pic.twitter.com/9SDQL7fowc
Dharmendra Discharged, Recovering at Home
On the morning of November 12, 2025, at approximately 7:30 AM, Dharmendra was discharged from Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. Photographs and videos of the veteran actor leaving the hospital circulated on social media, providing visual evidence that the death reports had been entirely false. The images showed Dharmendra looking frail but conscious as he was transported home.
The family’s statement following his discharge confirmed that Dharmendra’s recovery would continue at his residence under medical supervision. While specific details about his medical condition were not disclosed out of privacy concerns, the statement indicated that the actor was stable and responding positively to treatment.
The discharge itself became another talking point on social media, with netizens sarcastically commenting that according to “Godi Media,” Dharmendra had become “the first person in the world to die on November 11 and get discharged from the hospital on November 12.” The incident highlighted how the false reporting had made media outlets a subject of widespread public mockery.
Revenge Trolling: Fake Death Videos Target Anjana
As news of Dharmendra’s recovery spread, internet users unleashed a wave of revenge trolling targeting Anjana Om Kashyap. Multiple viral videos and social media posts began circulating that falsely claimed the senior TV journalist had died, mirroring the false reporting her channel had done about Dharmendra.
One particularly viral reel showed a content creator dramatically crying before a poster of Anjana Om Kashyap that had been adorned with a funeral garland, mimicking traditional mourning rituals. The video appeared designed to give the anchor a taste of her own medicine, showing her how it feels when someone’s death is falsely announced and mourned.
The revenge trolling videos spread rapidly across Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms, with creators producing multiple variations on the theme. Some videos featured exaggerated mourning performances, while others created mock obituaries and tribute posts for the very much alive journalist. The coordinated nature of the trolling suggested that many users felt the harsh approach was justified given what they perceived as Aaj Tak’s journalistic malpractice.
Netizens Divided Over Harsh Trolling Tactics
The revenge death hoax targeting Anjana Om Kashyap divided social media users, with reactions ranging from full support to outright condemnation. A significant portion of commenters expressed approval for the trolling, with one user writing, “They needed to make this video; you’ve done it right.” These supporters argued that only by experiencing the same treatment could journalists understand the gravity of falsely announcing someone’s death.
However, others pushed back against the harsh tactics, arguing that two wrongs don’t make a right. One user commented, “No, this is not done! Please stop this.” Another wrote, “Yes, Sir, this seems equally incorrect as the earlier one. With due respect, two wrongs don’t make a right.” These critics contended that while Aaj Tak’s false reporting deserved criticism, creating fake death videos about the anchor crossed ethical lines.
Some netizens attempted a more nuanced position, acknowledging that while Anjana Om Kashyap was the visible face of the false report, she likely bore limited personal responsibility. As an anchor, she reads scripts and presents information provided by her production team, reporters, and editorial staff. Multiple commenters noted that the real culprits were the reporters who failed to verify information and editors who approved the story without proper fact-checking.
Legal Threats from Sunny Deol
Beyond social media trolling, the false death reporting has potentially serious legal consequences for Aaj Tak and other media outlets that ran the story. Dharmendra’s son, actor and BJP MP Sunny Deol, has reportedly issued legal threats against news channels that prematurely and falsely announced his father’s death.
The legal threats signal that the Deol family views the incident as more than just an embarrassing error, instead considering it actionable defamation or harassment. While specific details of potential legal action have not been publicly disclosed, the threat itself serves as a warning to media organizations about the consequences of prioritizing speed over accuracy in health-related reporting about public figures.
Legal experts note that falsely reporting someone’s death could potentially constitute defamation under Indian law, particularly if it causes emotional distress to the family or damages the subject’s reputation and business interests. For an aging actor like Dharmendra, false death reports could affect his market value, cause distress to elderly relatives and friends, and create unnecessary panic among millions of fans.
Hospital Staff Arrested for Privacy Violation
Adding another disturbing layer to the incident, hospital staff at Breach Candy Hospital were arrested for secretly filming Dharmendra during an extremely vulnerable moment and circulating the private video online. The footage reportedly showed the 89-year-old actor lying unconscious in his hospital room, surrounded by worried family members, including Hema Malini.
The unauthorized filming and circulation of the private medical moment represents a gross violation of patient privacy and medical ethics. Hospital administration faced severe criticism for the security breach, with questions raised about how staff members were able to use their phones to film patients and then distribute sensitive footage on social media and messaging platforms.
The arrest of the responsible staff members sends a strong message about the consequences of such privacy violations, but the incident highlights broader concerns about patient confidentiality in high-profile medical cases. The Deol family’s statement specifically referenced this violation when requesting privacy, noting that even in their most vulnerable moments, the family was subjected to invasive documentation and public exposure.
Systemic Problem: TRP Culture Over Truth
Media analysts have used the Dharmaendra death hoax incident to highlight a systemic problem plaguing Indian television news, particularly the obsession with TRP ratings and a breaking news culture that prioritizes speed over accuracy. In the race to be first with a story, channels increasingly skip essential verification steps, leading to embarrassing and harmful false reports.
Political commentator Praveen Gautam analyzed the incident on his YouTube channel “Public Meter,” describing how the false news exposed the dangers of prioritizing speed over truth in modern journalism. He noted that the rush to break celebrity death news has become so intense that channels will air stories based on hospital rumors or unverified social media posts without confirming details with family members or official sources.
The incident also highlighted how false reports can cascade through the media ecosystem. Once Aaj Tak aired the story, other news websites and channels picked it up, assuming that a major outlet would not report such significant news without verification. This created a situation where multiple media organizations were simultaneously reporting false information, lending credibility to what was actually a baseless rumor.
Questions About Video Authenticity
Interestingly, some uncertainty remains about exactly what Aaj Tak aired and when. Attempts to locate the full video of Anjana Om Kashyap announcing Dharmendra’s death on Aaj Tak’s official social media channels have reportedly been unsuccessful, raising questions about whether the footage was edited, taken out of context, or perhaps deleted after the error was discovered.
One analysis noted, “At the time of writing, it remains unclear whether the footage was edited, taken out of context, or aired mistakenly. Aaj Tak has not issued any public clarification.” The channel’s silence on the matter has frustrated critics who believe a transparent acknowledgment of the error and explanation of how it occurred would be more appropriate than quietly removing evidence and hoping the controversy blows over.
The lack of official clarification from Aaj Tak has allowed speculation to flourish. Some suggest the channel aired preliminary footage about Dharmendra’s hospitalization that was misinterpreted or edited by others to appear as a death announcement. Others contend that the channel did run a full death story but quickly pulled it when the family’s denials emerged, attempting to minimize the evidence of their error.
Celebrity Condolences Quickly Deleted
The false death report created an awkward situation for numerous celebrities, politicians, and public figures who posted condolence messages based on the news. Once Hema Malini and Esha Deol clarified that Dharmendra was alive and recovering, these individuals faced the embarrassing task of deleting their premature tributes.
The incident serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of reacting instantly to breaking news on social media without independent verification. Even prominent political figures with access to information channels fell for the false report, demonstrating how quickly misinformation can spread when it comes from seemingly credible news sources.
For the celebrities and politicians who posted and then deleted condolence messages, the episode represented a personal embarrassment. Screenshots of their deleted posts circulated widely on social media, with users pointing out how even educated and well-connected individuals can become victims and perpetrators of fake news when they fail to verify information before sharing it.
Mirror to Media Credibility Crisis
The Dharmendra death hoax has become what analysts describe as a “mirror” for Indian media, reflecting deep-seated credibility problems that extend beyond this single incident. Public trust in news media has eroded significantly in recent years, with surveys showing declining confidence in journalists’ accuracy, fairness, and independence from political and commercial interests.
The term “Godi Media” (lapdog media), used pejoratively to describe news outlets perceived as uncritically supporting the government, has been repeatedly invoked in discussions of this incident. Critics argue that channels like Aaj Tak have become so focused on sensationalism and maintaining government favor that basic journalistic standards have fallen by the wayside.
Social media users have pointed out the bitter irony that the same media outlets that constantly question others’ credibility and demand accountability from politicians and celebrities cannot maintain basic accuracy in their own reporting. The false Dharmendra death report joins a long list of errors, from incorrect election predictions to misreported crime stories, that have damaged media credibility.
Anjana Om Kashyap: Face of a Systemic Failure
While Anjana Om Kashyap has borne the brunt of public anger and trolling, media industry insiders emphasize that news anchors typically have limited control over the content they present. Anchors read from teleprompters based on scripts prepared by producers, editorial teams, and reporting staff. The decision to air a death announcement would involve multiple people across the organizational hierarchy.
One social media analysis noted, “Anjana’s 1% responsibility in this is not even there. The mistake belongs to the channel’s people. Those who provided the news input are at fault. They should have confirmed the news before passing it to her to read.” This perspective argues that directing all criticism at the visible anchor allows the actual decision-makers to escape accountability.
However, others counter that senior anchors like Anjana Om Kashyap, who have significant influence within their organizations, bear some responsibility for quality control and questioning dubious information before presenting it as fact. They argue that experienced journalists should develop instincts for identifying unverified or suspicious claims and should push back against airing such content until proper confirmation is obtained.
Calls for Media Reform and Accountability
The incident has renewed calls for media reform in India, with suggestions ranging from self-regulatory measures to government oversight. Critics argue that the current regulatory framework, primarily involving the Press Council of India and News Broadcasting Standards Authority, lacks sufficient enforcement power to meaningfully address systemic problems in television news.
Some have proposed mandatory waiting periods before reporting celebrity deaths, a requirement for family confirmation before airing such stories, and significant financial penalties for false reports that cause distress. Others suggest that professional journalism organizations should establish clearer ethical guidelines with meaningful consequences for violations.
The challenge lies in balancing accountability with press freedom. While obviously false death reports should face consequences, overly strict regulations could chill legitimate investigative journalism and give powerful figures tools to suppress unfavorable coverage. Finding the right balance requires thoughtful consideration of competing interests and values.
Moving Forward: Lessons Unlearned?
As Dharmendra continues his recovery at home and the immediate controversy fades, the question remains whether media organizations will learn meaningful lessons from this embarrassing episode. History suggests pessimism may be warranted; similar incidents have occurred repeatedly over the years, yet the race-to-break-news culture persists.
The false death hoax targeting Anjana Om Kashyap, while ethically questionable, has succeeded in keeping the issue in public consciousness longer than a typical media error might survive. Whether this extended attention translates into actual reform in newsroom practices remains uncertain.
For now, Dharmendra’s family has requested privacy as the 89-year-old actor recovers from whatever health crisis led to his hospitalization. The legendary performer’s millions of fans have expressed relief that the death reports were false while demanding better from the media outlets they rely on for information about their favorite stars.
