'I’m an actor, I earn from it': Ajay on elaichi row, SRK on controversial ads

Ajay Devgn’s old remarks defending his decision to appear in a popular Elaichi advertisement have resurfaced following the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s latest action against the brand’s celebrity endorsers. For those not in the know, FDA has issued notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over the advertisement, alleging that it could amount to surrogate promotion of Vimal Pan Masala, which is banned in Maharashtra. Amid that, here's recalling when Ajay Devgn had defended endorsing this elaichi brand. Ajay had defended his association with the elaichi product without explicitly naming the brand. Explaining his stance, he said in an earlier interview with Screen, “It is a personal choice. When you do something, you also see how harmful it would be. Some things are harmful, some are not. I would say it without naming it because I don’t want to promote it; I was doing elaichi. What I feel is that, more than advertisements, if certain things are so wrong, then they should not be sold." Shah Rukh Khan, too, had previously spoken about the responsibility of celebrities endorsing products that are considered controversial, including cigarettes and soft drinks. Speaking to CNN-IBN, the actor said, “I would appeal to any authority to ban it; don’t let it be sold in our country. If smoking is bad, stop the production of cigarettes. If you think soft drinks are bad, don’t allow them to be made." Elaborating on his argument, Shah Rukh added, “My logic is you’re not stopping them because they bring in revenue. You’re not stopping certain products because they’re revenue sources for the government. Then don’t stop my revenue. I’m an actor. I’m supposed to do a job and earn from it. And very clearly, if you think something is wrong, stop it. Stop making it." Tiger Shroff, meanwhile, has not publicly commented on the latest controversy. The notices have been issued as the Maharashtra FDA intensifies its scrutiny of gutka and pan masala products containing tobacco or nicotine. According to the regulator, the use of the Vimal name and branding in an elaichi advertisement could create an indirect association with the pan masala product. The FDA has therefore raised concerns that the campaign may function as a form of surrogate advertising, allowing the prohibited brand to maintain visibility through the elaichi product.