Poonam Pandey

Poonam Pandey (born 11 March 1991) is an Indian model, actress and television personality. She debuted in Bollywood with the film Nasha in 2013.^[1] She was also a contestant in Khatron Ke Khiladi 4 and Lock Upp season 1.

Poonam Pandey
Pandey in 2023
Born	(1991-03-11) 11 March 1991 (age 33) Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupations	Actress model
Years active	2010–present
Spouse	Sam Ahmed Bombay ​ ​ (m. 2020; sep. 2021)​

Early life and media spotlight

Pandey was born in a middle class family family in Kanpur on 11 March 1991.^[2][3] She began career as a model in 2010.^[4] She became one of the top nine contestants of the Gladrags Manhunt and Megamodel Contest and appeared on the cover page of the fashion magazine.^[5][6]

Pandey became popular through her social media accounts, including Twitter, when she started posting her semi-nude photos. Her revealing photos received significant media attention.^[7]

Pandey rose to the media's spotlight when she promised to strip for the India national cricket team if it won the 2011 Cricket World Cup.^[8][9] India indeed lifted the World Cup; however, Pandey did not fulfill her promise due to public disapproval, but later claimed she was denied permission by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).^[10] However, she did upload a video on her mobile app (see below), where she is seen stripping naked at the Wankhede Stadium at night.^[11]

In 2012, she posed nude after Kolkata Knight Riders won the Indian Premier League.^[12][13]

Pandey went on to have her own mobile application developed. The app was banned by Google soon after its 2017 launch on the Play Store and since 2020 is now only available on her official site.^[14]

Pandey also uploaded a sex tape to Instagram in which she was with her boyfriend, that she later deleted.^[15][16]

Film career

Pandey in 2013

In 2013, she played the female lead of the film Nasha, playing a teacher who ends up having a sexual relationship with one of her students.^[17] While Rediff.com stated that she excelled as a seductress in the role,^[18] the Mumbai Mirror said she did "not play seductresses but a proper, responsible drama teacher" and that "Poonam makes an effort but isn't quite there".^[19]

The posters for the film, which featured her "clad in nothing, but two placards tactfully placed to cover her body", angered people and a group of protesters tore the posters and set them on fire on 20 July 2013 in Mumbai.^[20] The general secretary of Shiv Sena Chitrapat objected to advertisements, saying, "We find the poster highly vulgar and derogatory and won't allow such hoardings."^[21]

Personal life

Pandey married her long-term boyfriend Sam Ahmed Bombay on 1 September 2020. The wedding had to be private because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were married at their Mumbai home in the presence of close friends and family.^[22]

On 11 September, Pandey filed a complaint against Bombay, claiming he had molested, threatened and assaulted her. Bombay was arrested on Tuesday 23 September in Goa. The incident happened in Canacona village in south Goa where Pandey was shooting for a movie.^[23][24] However, this sparked a controversy as many accused her of scamming and abusing the use of IPC Section 498A.^{[25][clarification needed]} Bombay was later released on bail and Pandey talked things over with him.^[26] Due to the sudden patch up just a few days after the incident and Bombay's arrest, many claimed and trolled her on social media that the whole incident was a publicity stunt.^[27][25]

On 5 November 2020, Pandey was arrested in North Goa for filming a nude video on government property.^[28][29] The arrest came after the Goa Forward Party filed a complaint and FIR, and stated to the media that Pandey's video was an assault on the women of Goa.^[30][31]

On 18 January 2022, she was given protection from arrest by the Supreme Court of India after being accused of involvement in the major porn-film-racketing scandal, that involved many Bollywood stars.^[32][33]

Death stunt

Pandey's manager posted on her official Instagram account through a post that Pandey had died of cervical cancer on 1 February 2024, at the age of 32.^[34][35] The next day it was revealed to be a publicity stunt to raise awareness about the disease, which received widespread criticism.^[36][37][38]

Pandey publicly apologised after the All Indian Cine Workers Association demanded that the Mumbai Police Commissioner file an FIR against her.^[39]

Filmography

Films

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2013	The Uncanny	Rita	Short film	[40]
	Nasha	Anita Joseph	In Hindi	[41][42][43]
2014	Love Is Poison	Herself	In Kannada, Special appearance in song "Shyane Ishta Cricketettu"	[44]
	Adalat	Herself	in Bhojpuri	[40]
2015	Malini & Co.	Malini	in Telugu	[45][46][47]
2017	Aa Gaya Hero	Herself	in Hindi, Special appearance in a song	[48]
	GST – Galti Sirf Tumhari		In Hindi	[49]
2018	The Journey of Karma	Karma D'souza	In Hindi	[50]
2019	Love in a Taxi	Herself	In Hindi	[40]
2020	Touch the Fire	Poonam Pandey	In Hindi	[40]

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2011	Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 4	Contestant	11th place
2013	SuperCops Vs Super Villains	Menaka/Shreya, Natasha
2015	Total Nadaniyaan	Jalebi Bai
	Pyaar Mohabbat Ssshhh
2022	Lock Upp	Contestant	7th place

Web series

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2023	Honeymoon Suite Room No. 911		ALTBalaji

Controversies

In January 2022, Poonam Pandey was granted protection from arrest by the Supreme Court in connection with a pornographic films racket case, in which businessman Raj Kundra was one of the main accused.^[51][52] The Bombay High Court had earlier rejected her anticipatory bail plea, prompting Pandey to approach the Supreme Court. Along with actor Sherlyn Chopra, Pandey was named as an accused in an FIR registered by the Mumbai Police's Cyber Cell under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act, and the Information Technology Act.^[53] The case alleged the creation and distribution of sexually explicit content.

References

1. "Bollywood debuts of 2013". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
2. "Poonam Pandey: We welcome a porn star but frown at a daughter of the nation – Indian Express". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
3. "Birthday Special: 50 pics that define Poonam Pandey". India Today. 11 March 2015. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
4. "I dont mind trying for IIMs: Poonam Pandey". The Times of India. 22 July 2011. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013.
5. "Poonam Pandey Gladrags Magazine Cover Page Hot Stills". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
6. "Meet Kingfisher model Poonam Pandey". Sify. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
7. Pritika Ghura, Poonam, Sherlyn, Mallika: Who dares to bare for fame? Archived 20 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Times of India 15 September 2013
8. "FIR against Poonam Pandey who vowed to strip if India wins World Cup". April 2, 2011. NDTV. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
9. "Silly Point: Poonam Pandey WILL strip on final day!". April 1, 2011. Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
10. "BCCI did not allow me to strip for Team India: Poonam Pandey". The Economic Times. 12 April 2011. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
11. "Poonam Pandey Stripping In Stadium porn video". Indian HQ Videos. 3 September 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
12. "Poonam Pandey and Rozlyn Khan strip for IPL finalist teams". India Today. 29 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
13. "Poonam Pandey finally strips, for KKR". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
14. "Google suspends Poonam Pandey's 'bold' app, available only on official site". Business Today. 19 April 2017. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
15. Team, DNA Web (18 January 2019). "Watch: Poonam Pandey does it again! Leaks her sex tape on Instagram, deletes it later". DNA India. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
16. "Poonam Pandey s*x video goes viral, later removed – OrissaPOST". Odisha News, Odisha Latest news, Odisha Daily – OrissaPOST. 20 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
17. "Poonam Pandey: I enjoyed romancing a teenager in Nasha". Rediff. 5 June 2013. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
18. Prasanna D Zor (26 July 2013). "Review: Nasha gives you a nice hangover". Rediff. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
19. Karan Anshuman (26 July 2013). "Frim review: Nasha". Mumbai Mirror. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
20. "Poonam Pandey's bold Nasha posters angers Mumbai, Delhi". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
21. "Poonam Pandey's film publicity irks political party". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
22. "Poonam Pandey on Wedding With Sam Bombay: 'Had to be Private Due to Covid19'". News18. 15 September 2020. Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
23. "Newly-wed actress Poonam Pandey accuses husband of molesting, threatening her". timesnownews.com. 22 September 2020. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
24. "Poonam Pandey Molested By Husband Sam Bombay Controversy: Actress Says, 'Not In The Right State Of Mind'- EXCLUSIVE". Yahoo. 22 September 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
25. "'Nobody Molested Her': Poonam Pandey Relentlessly Trolled after FIR Against Husband Sam Bombay". News 18. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
26. "Poonam Pandey patches up with husband Sam Bombay after getting him arrested for molestation?". The Times of India. 29 September 2020. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
27. Nayak, Pooja (27 September 2020). "Poonam Pandey patches up with husband Sam Bombay; netizens call their 'molestation' row a 'publicity stunt'". Times Now News. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
28. "Breaking: Poonam Pandey arrested for shooting obscene video in Goa". DNA India. 5 November 2020. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
29. "Goa Police arrest Poonam Pandey for shooting an obscene video at Chapoli Dam". The Times of India. 5 November 2020. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
30. "FIR against Poonam Pandey for shooting obscene video on Goa govt property". The Indian Express. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
31. "Goa Forward Party files an FIR against actress Poonam Pandey for shooting obscene video at Chapoli Dam". The Times of India. 4 November 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
32. "Actor Poonam Pandey Gets Protection From Arrest In Porn Case". Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
33. "Porn video case: SC grants protection from arrest to actress Poonam Pandey". Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
34. "Model-actor Poonam Pandey dies of cervical cancer, says her manager. She was 32". India Today. 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
35. "Poonam Pandey dies of cervical cancer, claims her manager". Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
36. "Poonam Pandey's publicity stunt 'dead from cervical cancer' make fans shocked". Bru Times News.
37. "Poonam Pandey says 'I'm alive' after reports of her death from cervical cancer, apologises for 'shocking everyone'". Hindustan Times. 3 February 2024. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
38. "Celebs, social media users roast Poonam Pandey for death hoax: 'Worst publicity stunt'". The Times of India. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
39. "Poonam Pandey's death stunt backfires as AICWA calls for FIR to be lodged against her". Hindustan Times. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
40. "Poonam Pandey Biography: Know Early Life and Controversies of The Lock Upp Contestant, Husband, Family and More". jagrantv. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
41. "Poonam Pandey's film publicity irks political party". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
42. "Poonam Pandey's bold Nasha posters angers Mumbai, Delhi". The Indian EXPRESS. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
43. "Poonam Pandey Go Nude For Nasha". Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
44. "PIX: Poonam Pandey's SIZZLING HOT Kannada debut". Rediff.com. 14 October 2013.
45. "Video: Poonam Pandey talks about Malini & Co". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
46. "Achieved whatever I wanted through controversy: Poonam Pandey". Deccan Chronicle. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
47. "Watch my film and judge me: Poonam Pandey". Deccan Chronicle. 26 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
48. "Poonam Pandey to do a item song with Govinda". Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
49. "GST: Galti Sirf Tumhari': Poster of new Poonam Pandey movie". scroll.in. 1 November 2017. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
50. "Trailer of Poonam Pandey's 'The Journey of Karma' is out". The Times of India. 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
51. "Porn video case: SC grants protection from arrest to actress Poonam Pandey". The Times of India. 19 January 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
52. "SC grants protection from arrest to Poonam Pandey in pornography case". The Indian Express. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
53. "Pornography case: SC grants protection from arrest to Poonam Pandey". The Tribune. Retrieved 20 December 2024.

External links

• Poonam Pandey at IMDb 
• Poonam Pandey at Bollywood Hungama