Friday 29 March 2024

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Issues | Smoking

Aishwarya's cigarette NOTEd

 

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Guzaarish has run into controversy ahead of its release, with National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) taking objection to film posters displayed across Mumbai, showing actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan smoking a cigarette.

The anti-tobacco NGO, has threatened to issue a legal notice against Aishwarya and the producer-director.

"The innumerable posters and banners of film 'Guzaarish' displayed all over Mumbai shows Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai smoking a cigarette. There would be scores of other scenes which could be displayed to convey the storyline of the film. Yet the producer has chosen this particular one, quiet oblivious to its after effect," NOTE India general secretary Dr Shekhar Salkar told PTI.

Salkar, who in past had dragged Amitabh Bachchan to high court for similar offence during the promotion of Family, said a legal notice would be issued against Aishwarya and producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali by Wednesday.

The NGO has demanded withdrawl of posters showing smoking scenes from the publicity campaign of the movie, scheduled to release next week.

He said, "the display of posters showing Aishwarya smoking raises worries in our mind that such depictions could be trend-setter."

Salkar, a practising Cancer surgeon, said that NOTE firmly believes that there is unscrupulous and callous use of film stars, who are considered as icons and even deities by their millions of fans, to propagate smoking.

He said it may not be intentional but it leaves a lasting impression on the minds of the fans ultimately bringing them more closer to the damned product (cigarette) and a chance to contract cancer.

NOTE India had in the past knocked every door to prevent the clandestine proliferation of tobacco by using Bollywood stars," Salkar said adding that they had even taken the legal recourse in their attempt to convince Amitabh Bachchan.

"Sadly our contention could not convince the Goa bench of the Bombay high court and it held Bachchan innocent of any wrongdoing," he added.


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People who find the urge to pontify over a superstar smoking a cigarette seriously need to get a life!! I mean, just think about it for a moment. There are so many other issues to get concerned about and you guys find the need to gain mileage on a film star smoking. That's really sad, guys.

 
Chris , Australia

The smoking and the liquor consumption are two addictions which are responsible causing avoidable fatal diseases to the younger generation!

It is not understood as to why the Government is not banning both these or imposing very heavy taxes on them to make them very very costly and out of reach of the masses?

Even in remote villages there are many avoidable deaths- almost in every house- of youngsters in their teens due to the liquor menace and many cases of diseases like cancer to the smokers-putting heavy burden on the health care facilities!

The road accidents due to drinking is another menace!

It is not understood as to why these are not totally banned in a welfare state in the interest of the masses! Or is it because of the pressure from the interested lobbies that the Government has gone into inaction?



 
vishwas prabhudesai , loliem

She being the daughter-in-law of Big B, she would have been aware of the consequences of her actions and the Court holding him innocent of wrong-doing.

The NGO after working hard should endeavour and try to eradicate growing and manufacture of tobacco or getting the government to earn from penalties and high tax on the manufacturers in order to support those affected, since it is working from a national level.

 
Ludovico , Old-Goa

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