Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna has sharply criticized Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Ajay Devgn for endorsing a tobacco brand in a controversial advertisement that surfaced last year. The ad, which promoted Vimal products, drew significant backlash from social media users who accused the stars of irresponsibly promoting tobacco.
In a recent interview with Bollywood Bubble, Khanna, known for his candid opinions on issues related to the Hindi film industry, expressed his frustration over celebrities endorsing such products for hefty paychecks. When asked if he believed big stars should be more responsible, Khanna didn’t mince words.
Speaking in Hindi, Khanna said, “If you ask me, I’d say, inko pakad ke maarna chaahiye (catch them and beat them up). I have told this to them. I have even scolded Akshay Kumar. He is such a health-conscious man otherwise, and he says ‘aadaab,’ Ajay Devgn says ‘aadaab,’ and now Shah Rukh Khan is doing the same. Crores of rupees are spent on making these ads. And what are you teaching the people? They claim they are not selling pan masala, but supari (betel nut). But they know what they are doing.”
Khanna further criticised the deceptive nature of such endorsements, drawing parallels to alcohol advertisements. “When you do a Kingfisher ad, it means you are selling Kingfisher beer. Everybody knows it; it’s called a deceptive ad. Why do they do these ads? Do they not have money? I have told them this, don’t do these things, you have a lot of money. Some actors have retracted, Akshay is one of them. If I am not wrong, Amitabh Bachchan has also moved away from it.”
Khanna revealed that he too had been approached for similar advertisements but declined. He urged fellow stars to reconsider such endorsements, emphasizing that their actions influence millions of fans who look up to them and often imitate their behavior.
