When Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, and Ajay Devgn featured in the pan masala ad, they were criticised for promoting the brand and the product. Soon after the backlash, Akshay even apologised to his fans and disassociated himself from such brands. However, Mukesh Khanna, who is known for his roles as Shatimaan and Bhishma has now slammed the superstars for featuring in pan masala ads.

Mukesh Khanna slammed superstars for promoting pan masala brands

In a recent interview, Mukesh Khanna reacted strongly to Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Ajay Devgn promoting pan masala brands. He said that audiences look up to them and urged them to not do such ads. 

In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, when Khanna was asked if superstars should be more responsible while doing such ads, the veteran actor said in Hindi, “If you ask me, I’d say, inko pakad ke maarna chaahiye (catch them and beat them up). 

"I have told this to them. I have even scolded Akshay Kumar. He is such a health-conscious man otherwise, and he says ‘aadaab’, Ajay Devgn says ‘aadaab’, and now Shah Rukh Khan is doing the same. Crores of rupees are spent on making these ads. And what are you teaching the people? (They say) we are not selling pan-masala, they say its supari (beetle nut). But they know what they are doing,” he added. 

Khanna further said that if an actor is doing a Kingfisher ad then they are selling Kingfisher beer and everyone knows it. He said these are called deceptive ads so why should one do it? He added, "Do they not have money? I have told them this, don’t do these things, you have a lot of money. Some actors have retrieved it, Akshay is one of them. If I am not wrong, Amitabh Bachchan has also moved away from it." 

He then said that even today these ads are being made and crores of rupees are spent on them. "People are spraying colour on each other, (and saying) Kesariya jabaan (saffron tongue)? You are teaching people to consume guthka!,” he added.

Mukesh Khanna also revealed that he has been approached for such advertisements too but he never said yes to them and also urged the stars to stop doing such ads as audiences look up to them and want to do as their favourite star does.

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