Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Video shows 85-year-old actor Waheeda Rehman dancing to ‘Aaj Phir Jeene ka Tamanna Hai’.
Fact
Video shows Sunila Ashok, a retired teacher.
Several social media users are circulating a video of an elderly woman dancing to an old Bollywood song ‘Aaj Phir Jeene ka Tamanna Hai’, claiming it to show veteran actor Waheeda Rehman, while applauding her grace and elegance at the age of 85.
The actor has been conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2021, which is given for “outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema” by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s (I&B) Directorate of Film Festivals.
We have received this claim on our Whatsapp tipline (9999499044), too, requesting us to fact-check it.
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Fact Check
Newschecker first ran a keyword search “Aaj Phir Jeene ka Tamanna Hai Waheeda Rehman dance”, which led us to this Youtube video, dated January 2, 2022, uploaded by a channel, Mayookha, stating, “‘Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai’ has been beautifully choreographed by Anoushka Sachdeva (@aangan_ tedha) during the initial month of my joining her dance class.”
We learnt that the channel was started by a dancer, Sunila Ashok, to upload videos of her performances. A further search led us to her Instagram page, where the first pinned post, dated September 27, 2023, is the viral video. Ashok states that the video is not of the veteran actor, saying, “Woke up this morning to a flurry of messages from my family & friends. My video for ‘Aaj phir jeene ki Tamanna hai’ seems to have gone viral as Waheeda Rahman’s dance video! I am greatly honoured to be compared to her and I am overwhelmed with all the love and appreciation I am getting from my viewers!..”.
Her Instagram bio, too, and story, too, acknowledges the case of mistaken identity.
We learnt, through another pinned post about Ashok’s participation in a reality show called Superstar after Retirement, that she was a retired teacher and is now pursuing her childhood passion for dance.
We reached out to Ashok, who confirmed it was her in the viral video. “I am honoured to be compared to the legendary actress Waheeda Rahman. I am a huge fan of her dancing and acting skills, so I was thrilled when my video went viral. Dance has been a childhood passion for me. I rediscovered this passion during the lockdown,” Ashok said, adding, “A young and extremely talented dancer/ choreographer, Anoushka Sachdeva(@aangan_tedha) became my tutor. I am learning contemporary and Bollywood dance from her. She has choreographed Aaj phir jeene ki Tamanna hai.”
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Conclusion
Viral video of a senior citizen dancing to an old Bollywood song has been misattributed to actor Waheeda Rehman.
Result: False
Sources
Youtube video, Mayookha, January 2, 2022
Instagram post, September 27, 2022
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
