Bollywood Stars Told to Drop Surrogate Ad in Maharashtra Food Safety Drive
Maharashtra authorities have warned Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over their appearances in a surrogate advertisement for Vimal cardamoms, a brand widely associated with pan masala. The state’s Food and Drug Administration has asked the actors to stop promoting the advertisement and provide details of their endorsement agreements.
The warning comes as Maharashtra steps up food safety and hygiene enforcement across Mumbai and other cities. Authorities have recently suspended licences of restaurants and shut several outlets and warehouses over hygiene violations. Officials said the Vimal advertisement could reinforce consumer recognition of a prohibited betel nut product, which is considered harmful to health, particularly when combined with tobacco.
The actors have been given 15 days to respond and have been asked to remove the advertisements from their social media accounts and avoid participating in further broadcasts. Surrogate advertising has previously drawn concern from the Indian government, with stricter rules proposed to prevent companies from promoting restricted products indirectly through related brands.
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