Smriti Irani Calls Media Coverage of Sridevi’s Death “Deplorable”

Veteran Actress Sridevi passed away on Saturday, 24 February, in Dubai.

Smriti Irani described Sridevi as the first female superstar of the Indian film industry, who shouldered many ‘90s blockbusters alone.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Speaking about the sensationalist tone of Indian media’s coverage of veteran actor Sridevi’s death, former actor and I&B Minister Smriti Irani lashed out against these channels, in an interview in Kolkata with Barkha Dutt.

The Minister’s statements came in response to the fact that the media had concocted scenarios around her death, going so far as to suggest that the reason behind her death were a series of intensive botox surgeries and forced diets, even before her mortal remains had been brought back from Dubai.

As I&B Minister, I would like to say the indignity thrust upon a legend like Sridevi in coverage by TV channels was deplorable. Even the ambulance bringing back her mortal remains was chased. Viewers are disgusted. Ask anyone.

Smriti Irani <a href="https://twitter.com/BDUTT/status/968864805967859714">to</a> Barkha Dutt&nbsp;

Irani had earlier penned a letter as a tribute to Sridevi following her death, where she said: "She was a woman who knew her mind and despite the challenges that came her way, she approached life with a lot of dignity,” reported PTI.

A legend who brought joy to the lives of millions has been lost. My condolences to her family and homage to her craft and brilliance in terms of her work.

Smriti Irani, as reported by <i>ANI</i>

Barkha Dutt too, in an opinion piece posted in the Washington Post, had expressed her embarrassment at the way several of the local, and even national, broadcast channels were reporting Sridevi’s demise.

As a broadcast journalist (currently on a sabbatical from the TV screen), I felt deeply embarrassed. I am sure I have done shows I am not super proud of, but never this.&nbsp;

Barkha Dutt in WP article

“The coverage has veered into gossip, disguised by claims of grief and has elevated scurrilous rumor over reportage,” the article continued.

Media Plumbs the Depths

In fact, the media’s coverage of the untimely and what they saw as “mysterious” death of Sridevi went from pointed side-remarks before the post-mortem was carried out to large-scale accusatory theories by the time it was concluded.

Mahaa News, a Telugu channel, had even gone as far as to re-enact Sridevi’s death, her final moments before she had accidentally drowned in the bathtub. They made one of their reporters crawl into the supposed position that Sridevi was in the bathtub when she was found.

Another one by ABP News posed the question: “Dinner date per hi kyun le jaana chahte the, Boney Kapoor? (Why did Boney Kapoor take Sridevi out on a dinner-date that day?”).

And nobody could miss the episode of Times Now, where they headlined one of their segments discussing the actress’ death as: “Sensational Twist to Sridevi Death”.

And these were just a sample of the crass coverage Indian TV channels had to offer.

Sridevi deserved better.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI and Washington Post)