Legendary actress Vyjayanthimala's son, Suchindra Bali, put an end to all the rumours with his official statement, after reports went viral on Friday that she was no more. Bali stated that the Bharatnatyam icon was "in good health", and requested fans to verify information instead of spreading false news.
Bali shared the statement on his WhatsApp status. "Dr Vyjayanthimala Bali is in good health, and any news that says otherwise is false. Before sharing, please validate the news source (sic)," it read.
This is not the first time that rumours of Vyjayanthimala's demise have surfaced on the internet. However, her family makes sure to issue clarifications and the actress seems to be hale and hearty.
Vyjayanthimala, who is currently 91, left her fans in disbelief when a video of her performing Bharatnatyam in Chennai earlier this year, had gone viral. Musician Girijashankar Sundaresan, who had provided the vocals for her performance, shared a video with the actress, and wrote, "An absolute honor to share the stage with Padma Vibhushan Dr. Vyjantimala Bali Amma. Her grace, talent, and legacy continue to inspire us all. Grateful to be part of this magical experience! Cherishing this moment forever (sic)."
Vyjayanthimala began working at the age of 16, and at her peak, she was one of the highest-paid actress of Bollywood. She is also regarded as the "first female superstar" of Indian cinema. She retired from acting in 1970, after the release of her film, Ganwaar.
In 1968, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India, the fourth-highest civilian honour. In 2024, the Indian government bestowed her with the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian honour.
