A shocking rumour saying Salman Khan had committed suicide spread like wildfire in India and abroad Wednesday even as the Bollywood star was busy shooting in Chennai.

A purported "news item" from Mumbai claimed he died at his plush Bandra apartment after slashing his wrists and that his body was shifted to a hospital.

But a close friend of Salman said Wednesday: "I just spoke to him in Chennai, so how could he commit suicide in Mumbai?"

Relieved fans later said someone seemed to have played a stupid trick on Salman, one of Bollywood's most popular actors.