Akshay Kumar says 'sorry' for Gutka ad


By Marcellus D’Souza

Mumbai, Apr 21: Famous Bollywood star Akshay Kumar has apoligised to fans and well-wishers after people on social media trolled him for appearing in an advertisement for a mouth freshener.

The advertisement had become controversial as the product that th actor promoted is said to contain tobacco. Most twitter users said that the actor was known to be a fitness freak and questioned how could he, a celebrity, endorse a product that contain tobacco?

Taking to Twitter, Akshay Kumar said, “I’m sorry, Iwould like to apologise to you, all my fans and well wishers. Your reaction over the past few days has deeply affected me. While I have not and will not endorse tobacco, I respect the outpouring of your feelings in light of my association with the product. With all humanity I step back”.

I have decided to contribute the entire endorsement fee towards a worthy cause. The brand may continue airing the advertisement till the legal duration of the contract that is binding upon me, but I promise to be extremely mindful in making future choices. In return, I shall forever continue to ask for your love and wishes”, the actor added.

On April 20 daijiworld had carried an IANS story which quoted “Goa BJP's medical cell convenor, Shekhar Salkar, who had urged Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to strip Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan off their Padma awards for featuring in surrogate advertisements promoting tobacco products”.

“I have no words to condemn the way Akshay Kumar has joined the gang of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgan to promote cancer through a surrogate advt of tobacco product. Ironically, all these people are Padma award winners,” Salkar had Tweeted.

“While @PMOIndia is working overtime to make India healthy through Fit India movement, the entire mission is humiliated by these so-called influencers with their surrogate advt trapping the younger generation into tobacco consumption. Do these actors really deserve Padmashri,” asked Salkar, who is also an office-bearer of the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication.

“People have put their faith in these disgraced, dishononurable actors who have sold their soul and ethics to make money at the cost of minds of innocent youth who emulate them and get adversely influenced and initiated to tobacco consumption,” he added.

“Bachchan is the recipient of the Padma Vibhushan award, while Khan, Devgn and Akshay Kumar have been awarded the Padmashri award, the country's fourth highest civilian honour”.

Except for Akshay Kumar, no reaction has been received thus far from the other actors named by Shekhar Salkar.

Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia, known professionally as Akshay Kumar, is an Indian-born naturalised Canadian actor, film producer, martial artist and television personality. Over 29 years, Kumar has appeared in over 100 films and has won several awards, including a National Film Award for Best Actor and two Filmfare Awards. Kumar is one of the most prolific actors of Hindi cinema. Having starred in 113 films, 52 of which were commercially successful, he was the first Bollywood actor whose films' domestic net lifetime collections crossed Rs. 20 billion (US$260 million) by 2013, and Rs. 30 billion (US$390 million) by 2016.

He is married to Twinkle Khanna, has two children and is said to be close to PM Narendra Modi.

  

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Comment on this article

  • AJ, Mangalore

    Thu, Apr 21 2022

    The biggest opportunist , chaatu kumar.. Always talks big things .First he does and then apoligises.

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ram, Puttur

    Thu, Apr 21 2022

    He has to. Because he need to gain sympathy and contest in the next election under BJP ticket

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru

    Thu, Apr 21 2022

    Amitabh Bachchan too said same thing last year and he even said he's returning money etc, but is happily chewing tobacco in IPL advertisements for same company this year too. And yes look at Ajay Devgan and Shah Rukh, Hrithik Roshan. Reality is post D Company camp disappearance from Bollywood and three rounds of COVID, films are rarity and big stars need to chew tobacco to get money. But do we see same thing with South stars or Kannada, Tulu stars? NO

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alfria, Manglore/Mumbai

    Thu, Apr 21 2022

    Sins don't get washed away by Merely saying sorry, he should donate all the money he earned through this cancerous ad. to cancer hospital.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • real kujuma, kodial

    Thu, Apr 21 2022

    inidan celebrities compared to westerners are very low in their morale....the western celebrities do so much for charity and help the needy...yeh log just become mouthpiece of some political party and amass more money...this tattu and anupam kher are biggest examples..

    DisAgree [10] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Agnes, Mangalore

    Thu, Apr 21 2022

    Cunning fox opportunist

    DisAgree [5] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Agnes, Mangalore

    Thu, Apr 21 2022

    Cunning fox opportunist.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Raheja Waterfront

    Thu, Apr 21 2022

    Foreigner. Hindu & Muslim ...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sameer, Riyadh

    Thu, Apr 21 2022

    Shameless Canadian. Dhoklapan chaatukar! Aap aam kaise khaate hain? Kaat ke ya chuus ke?

    DisAgree [5] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lenny Pais, Mangalore

    Thu, Apr 21 2022

    Seriously at 54??? Do wrong , earn in wrong and you think this earned money will benefit the Poor or needy...🤔🤔. Stick to your conscience, when you signed it alerted you that you are showing wrong path to your followers. Though not a movie goes, I was your fan always as you were into health and fitness, but not anymore. You should even surrender your Canadian Citizenship and embrace Indian Nationality , or else all your 'deshbakth' activities will be termed as 'hypocricy'.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Reshmi Salian, Mangalore

    Thu, Apr 21 2022

    Bollywood is a crap. These so called superstars were just criticising previous Congress government when there was hike in fuel prices especially Amitabh Bachan. Now he is quiet though the price is increased sharply. These double standard people should be stripped off from all awards. Hypocrites.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vijay Benedict, Mangalore

    Thu, Apr 21 2022

    How long we Indians will be follower to these so called role models or idols?? Never seen such things in any other country. Haven't see any famous film or sports personality doing commercial ads in US or Europe. We have put them on our head. Let them be entertainers only.....

    DisAgree [2] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • prasad, Mangaluru

    Thu, Apr 21 2022

    Pappu followers preaching others

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse


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