New Delhi . After the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) issued a show cause notice to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgan and Tiger Shroff regarding the advertisement of Vimal Elaichi, an old statement has again come into discussion. FDA has sought answers from these three artists regarding the advertisement. The department believes that the advertisement of Vimal Cardamom could be a surrogate advertisement of pan masala and tobacco products banned in the state. The three artistes have been given 15 days to respond to the notice.
Amidst this entire controversy, Shahrukh Khan's many years old interview has again become a topic of discussion in social media and entertainment world. In that interview, journalist Karan Thapar had questioned Shahrukh about celebrities advertising those products which are said to have adverse effects on health. During the question, soft drink advertisements were also mentioned and it was said that children are influenced by the advertisements of big stars.
On this, Shahrukh Khan had argued at that time that if the government has so much objection to a product and considers it harmful to the society, then it should not be allowed to be manufactured and sold in the country. Shahrukh had said that if cigarettes are bad then the government should ban their production and if soft drinks are considered harmful then their production should be stopped. His question was that when the government is not stopping the revenue from such products then why are questions raised about the earnings of artists.
Describing himself as an actor, Shahrukh had said that his job is to act and earn from it. According to him, if any product is wrong then its production should be stopped. Due to this old statement, amidst the current controversy, Shahrukh's side has once again come into discussion. However, there is no official response yet from Shahrukh Khan or Ajay Devgan and Tiger Shroff regarding the current FDA notice.
According to the FDA notice, the three artists will have to clarify whether Vimal Cardamom is actually a separate product or whether the banned Vimal Pan Masala and tobacco products are being indirectly promoted through it. The department has also asked for many documents and information related to the advertisement.
In the notice, information has been sought from the artists about the TV channels, digital platforms and social media mediums where this advertisement was aired or published. Along with this, it has also been asked to provide information related to the duration of the advertisement and its telecast. The FDA has also sought documents related to commercial or legal agreements between the artists and the brand owner.
Now the three stars will have to submit written replies and necessary documents to the FDA within the stipulated 15 days. According to reports, in case of not responding or not providing satisfactory information, one may have to face further legal action and fine. At present, the response of the artists is awaited in the matter. At the same time, Shahrukh Khan's old statement is once again raising the question in the midst of this controversy, whether the responsibility of promoting banned or controversial products lies only with the celebrities who advertise or the manufacturing and sale of such products should also be equally questioned.