 "Dilip Kumar not dead, is completely fine, tweets Amitabh Bachchan")
This could be one of those incidents where social media jumped at a baseless rumour and virtually killed one of the stalwarts of Bollywood. Even though actors are not new to death hoaxes, it must be noted that this has happened to this gentleman twice.
On Tuesday, a string of tweets appeared sparking rumours that veteran actor Dilip Kumar died at Lilvati hospital late on Monday. According to a report in Sahara Samay , the hoax tweets sent the social networking site in a tizzy.
Any confirmation from #Mumbai? #DilipKumar pic.twitter.com/6hkV5Pw2tD
— ایاک و نعبد ووایاک نستعین (@sszoha) November 25, 2014
Sad to hear the death of one of #Btown veteran actors #dilipkumar. #RIPDilipKumar
— Noel D'Souza (@Noel2589) November 24, 2014
Dilipkumar died this afternoon. Very big loss to Bollywood. Great soul n great man. May he rest in peace #dilipkumar #legend #RIP
— Jitesh N Jethwa 🇹🇿 (@Jitz3000) November 24, 2014
Most of the tweets were deleted once twitterati realised that the news was nothing but a rumour. But not before enough screen grabs were taken.
This is not the first time that an actor has fallen prey to death hoaxes. Actor Asha Parekh, singer Lata Mangeshkar, actor Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Ayushmann Khurrana, Bappi Lahiri and Kader Khan are a few Bollywood names who have been randomly killed off on social media.
The confirmation that Dilip saab was alive and kicking came a little late. And many fans of the thespian rubbished these rumours.
Twitter and whatsapp have killed #dilip kumar. Don't believe them. It's a hoax.
— Mazhar Farooqui (@Mazharfarooqui) November 24, 2014
How come #dilipkumar could die when I am only half way through his book ... Nope na na na...
— M I R Z A / مرزا (@MirzaABBaig) November 24, 2014
#dilipkumar is fine. Spoke to Sairaji. RIP internet death hoax.
— Renuka Vyavahare (@renukaVyavahare) November 24, 2014
Yusuf Saab .. #DilipKumar is perfectly Fine. Do Not Spread Rumor Guys. God Bless him. !!
— RJ ALOK (@OYERJALOK) November 24, 2014
But the official and believable confirmation came from Amitabh Bachchan. The The senior Bachchan rubbished rumours of Dilip Kumar’s death and tweeted:
T 1685 - Some baseless rumours being spread about Yusuf Saheb - Dilip Kumar, being ill .. Saira ji just informed me he is perfectly fine !
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) November 24, 2014
The hoax mongers must have got the shock of their life when Dilip saab himself tweeted that he was touched by his fans’ concern.
But the cake was taken away by Dilip Kumar’s fans who found the best way to snub such rumours. One tweeted this iconic picture (which was converted into a funny meme).
#dilipkumar pic.twitter.com/Fdpq1g4wid
— Raj V (@xeritch) November 24, 2014
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