Who actually started the rumour on Wednesday evening that Mrs Jaya Bachchan’s mother had passed away, and more importantly, why? On reading the “news” on the net, I immediately called up my dear friend JB to condole. She is in Bhopal with her mother. She quietly told me, “Maa is in hospital and getting better.
” For a split second, I didn’t know how to react. Then I told her I was much relieved to hear this. Coincidentally just a week back I was at the Bachchans’ residence conversing with JB.
We spoke about her mother’s health. She assured me her mom was doing all right. Killing off celebrities, in this case a celebrity’s mother, gets eyeballs.
It also sucks the marrow out of the huge credibility issue that the media now faces. Veteran actor Dharmendra is very upset with a section of the media getting so excited over false death reports. “I’ve been a victim of this several times.
It is very wrong. When you do something like this, you traumatize the near and dear ones who are not physically close to the victim of false news. Jab tak sahi khabar unn takk pahunchti hai unpar kya guzarti hai?” Raakhee Gulzar who was recently declared “dead” says there should be stronger laws against false news.
“After me, it is Jaya’s mother? More caution needs to be exercised when it is a matter of life and death.” Needless to say, the Bachchan family is far from amused by this death hoax. Jaya Bachchan’s low opinion of the media has gone down some more.
Also R.
