Racing for Clicks: How Media Sensationalism Fuels False Narratives

Paromita Das

New Delhi, 11th  November: In the whirlwind of today’s fast-paced news cycle, the premature and unverified reports declaring Bollywood legend Dharmendra dead have laid bare a disturbing trend of media irresponsibility. The iconic actor, fondly called the ‘He-Man of Bollywood,’ has been hospitalized at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital since November 10, 2025, where he is reportedly stable and responding well to treatment. Despite this, several major media houses such as Jansatta, News 18 India, and Zee TV—keen to outrun each other in the race to become number one—audaciously declared his demise without any confirmation from hospital officials or his family, forcing his loved ones to publicly correct the misinformation. This spectacle highlights a deeper crisis in modern journalism, where the race to break news often supersedes truth, dignity, and accountability.

Dharmendra’s Health: Truth Amidst the Tumult

Despite rumors, Dharmendra remains under the vigilant care of senior cardiologist Dr. Dev Pahlajani. Family members including wife Hema Malini, sons Sunny and Bobby Deol, daughter Esha Deol, and Bollywood celebrities such as Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan have been present at the hospital, offering their support. On social media, Esha Deol poignantly addressed the false death claims, writing, “THE MEDIA SEEMS TO BE IN OVERDRIVE AND SPREADING FALSE NEWS. MY FATHER IS STABLE & RECOVERING. WE REQUEST EVERYONE TO GIVE OUR FAMILY PRIVACY. THANK YOU FOR THE PRAYERS FOR PAPA’S SPEEDY RECOVERY.”

Hema Malini’s Voice: Calling Out Media Recklessness

Perhaps most striking was the strong response from Hema Malini. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), she condemned the irresponsible spreading of misinformation, stating,
“What is happening is unforgivable! How can responsible channels spread false news about a person who is responding to treatment and is recovering? This is being extremely disrespectful and irresponsible. Please give due respect to the family and its need for privacy.”

What is happening is unforgivable! How can responsible channels spread false news about a person who is responding to treatment and is recovering? This is being extremely disrespectful and irresponsible. Please give due respect to the family and its need for privacy.

— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) November 11, 2025

 

Her candid rebuke not only defended Dharmendra’s dignity but underscored a serious ethical lapse by news outlets—to publish and amplify rumors without verification.

The Price of Sensationalism

The media’s premature death declarations inflicted real human cost. Beyond distressing Dharmendra’s family, they misled millions of fans and created needless panic. The borderline invasion of privacy during a sensitive family health crisis reflects a troubling prioritization of clicks and views over responsible journalism. In an era where fake news spreads faster than facts, such recklessness erodes public trust and damages the credibility of the press.

A Call for Media Accountability and Ethics

The Dharmendra episode is emblematic of a broader malaise afflicting global media—a relentless pressure to break news first, often at the expense of accuracy and empathy. Media houses must recommit to foundational journalistic principles: fact-checking, patient verification, and respect for the subjects behind headlines. Regulatory bodies and digital platforms should also strengthen mechanisms to curb misinformation. Equally, news consumers bear responsibility to discern, question, and demand accountability.

Truth and Respect Above All

The premature death rumors about Dharmendra illustrate the urgent need for media houses to respect both the truth and the individual’s dignity while serving public interest. As Dharmendra fights through his health challenges, it is only fitting that journalism upholds facts, offers space for privacy, and resists sensationalism. In an age overwhelmed by information, truth must remain the highest virtue of news dissemination.