Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood superstar, has faced scrutiny over the years for endorsing products like cigarettes and cold drinks. In a resurfaced 2006 interview with Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN, Khan addressed the controversy, offering a pragmatic defense of his choices while also calling for consistent regulation.
Khan's argument centered on the idea that if these products are genuinely harmful, authorities should ban them outright rather than targeting celebrities for endorsements. "I would appeal to any authority like that. Ban it. Don't let it sell in our country," he stated, drawing a parallel between soft drinks and cigarettes. He further elaborated, "If you think it's bad for children, ban it. Smoking is bad – don't let the production of cigarettes go on in this country. If you think cold drinks are bad, do not let them. If it's poisoning our people, do not let it be made in India".
The actor pointed out the hypocrisy of allowing the production and sale of potentially harmful goods while simultaneously criticizing celebrity endorsements. He suggested that the government's reluctance to ban these products stems from the significant revenue they generate. "See, my logic is, you are not stopping it because it gives you revenue, let's be honest about it," Khan explained. "You're not stopping certain products if you think they're harmful, but they're revenue to the government. Don't stop my revenue. I'm an actor. I'm supposed to do a job and get revenue from it. And very clearly, if you think something is wrong, stop it. There's no problem".
Khan also defended the portrayal of smoking in films, asserting that the Indian audience is discerning enough to differentiate between on-screen behavior and real-life actions. He argued that there are more pressing health issues than smoking in films, suggesting that artistic expression should not be unduly restricted. "The whole larger issue is that today smoking, tomorrow what? An art form should be left alone," he said. "And I truly believe that the Indian masses are literate enough to know that there's no more Humphrey Bogart kind of smoking, no more that you will start smoking because an actor does. And it's a very, very small health issue. I think the powers should look at bigger health issues than smoking in films".
In conclusion, Shah Rukh Khan's stance on endorsing products like cigarettes and cold drinks is rooted in a call for consistent regulation and a recognition of the economic realities that often influence government policy. He maintains that if a product is deemed harmful, it should be banned outright, and that celebrities should not be scapegoated for endorsing products that are legally available.
