A fake news story claiming actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had committed suicide went viral over the weekend, leaving many devastated. The false stories have been doing the rounds on social media and the WhatsApp messaging service.

The report originated from fake news website Linkbeef, according to Inquisitr. Some reports also carried an image of a bruised person on a hospital bed. The stories claimed that the actor had overdosed on tranquilisers because of ongoing troubles with the Bachchan family, according to Zoom TV.

Celebrity death hoaxes are more commonplace in the United States and United Kingdom. Hollywood actors such as Morgan Freeman, Adam Sandler and Rowan Atkinson have been victims of such fake viral news, while in India, Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapooor and Dev Anand have previously been reported dead.