The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration reportedly issued show-cause notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff for featuring in an advertisement of a brand linked to pan masala. Days later, Sunny Deol appeared on a podcast, where he vehemently opposed endorsing pan masala or any product that is unsafe for consumption and against his ideologies. However, the internet was quick to dig out an old advertisement featuring the Batwara 1947 actor. He was seen consuming a packet of pan masala along with two women.
Sunny Deol’s old pan masala ad goes viral
In the video promoting ‘meetha paan’, Sunny visits a roadside stall selling a variety of pan masalas. Ravi Kishan, who plays the vendor, hands out a packet of ‘meetha paan’ to him. While doing so, the camera focuses on the table where packets of pan masala with Sunny’s signature reveals his association with the brand. Following that, ‘Raja Sahab’ Deol enjoys his Sada Pan Masala.
Sunny Deol in a pan masala ad
Sunny Deol claims he turned down offers to endorse pan masala
Contrary to the old ad, spoke about not endorsing pan masala on Shubhankar Mishra’s recent podcast. The actor said his decision will never change. “I don’t do pan masala ads and kabhi karunga bhi nahi. I wouldn’t do any of those things. (Offer) Aatey hai, but nahi karunga. I don’t want to do something which I don’t believe in,” he said.
Deol added, “Main in sab cheezon ko manta nahi hoon. I don’t think this is a good thing to promote. Kitni cheezein nahi karta because mera zameer nahi manta isliye aur jo karni hoti hai voh kar leta hoon.”
FDA notices to Bollywood actors
After , Ajay and Tiger received show-cause notices, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said that there should be impact of the action taken by FDA over measures taken against violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act and if the response of the actors over notice to their advertisement for a chewing elaichi brand is unsatisfactory, a fine of Rs 10 lakh ‘can be imposed in the first stage’.
About Batwara 1947
Workwise, Sunny Deol’s latest film, is running in theatres. It released on August 14 alongside Emraan Hashmi’s Awarapan 2. The Partition-themed family drama is directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and also stars Shabana Azmi, Preity Zinta and Karan Deol. Batwara 1947 is yet to cross the Rs 100 crore mark at the box office.