In a viral interview on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, actress-model Poonam Pandey made a series of shocking claims about famous personalities reaching out to her privately. Known for her bold statements, Poonam revealed that her social media DMs are frequently flooded with messages from verified (blue-tick) cricketers and actors.
While she refused to “name and shame” individual stars, her comments have already ignited a firestorm of speculation on social media.
The “Cute” Message and the Block
Poonam shared a specific instance involving a well-known cricketer who allegedly wouldn’t take no for an answer:
- The Message: One cricketer reportedly messaged her repeatedly, saying, “You look very cute.”
- The Reaction: Poonam stated that the persistence became uncomfortable, eventually leading her to block the player.
- Intentions: When asked if these athletes approach her with serious intent, she dismissed the idea. “It feels like they just want to hang out… I wonder who they think they are,” she remarked, adding that she believes many other women in the industry receive similar messages.
Pattern of Controversy: Khushi Mukherjee vs. Suryakumar Yadav
Industry insiders were quick to compare Poonam’s claims to those of actress Khushi Mukherjee, who previously alleged that Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav had messaged her. That instance led to heavy trolling and a subsequent “clarification” from Mukherjee, leading many netizens to label Poonam’s latest statements as a similar “PR stunt” for attention.
Poonam Pandey’s Cricket Connection
This isn’t Poonam’s first run-in with the cricketing world:
- 2011 World Cup: She famously rose to national fame by promising to strip if India won the World Cup.
- Current Standing: Her latest remarks come at a time when she is slowly returning to the limelight following her widely criticized “fake death” stunt in February 2024, which she had claimed was to raise awareness for cervical cancer.