What is Bollywood’s obsession with Pan Masala?

Bollywood is a hypocrite. Such is the hypocrisy that they put even chameleon to shame. They pretend to have moral standards or opinions that they do not really have. However, the audience seems to have realised the same and this is evident in the recent trolling of Khiladi Kumar. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has been slammed by Twitterati for his hypocrisy to feature in an ad that promotes ‘Pan Masala’. Notably, the actor had once urged people not to promote such products.

Meet a hypocrite Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar – a name that invites accolades as well as abuses at the same time. For some, he is action king aka ‘Khiladi Kumar’, while for others he is simply a fickle-minded opportunist or ‘Canadian Kumar’.

However, Akshay Kumar is yet again in the news not primarily for his movies, but for his new advertisement promoting ‘Pan Masala’.

Read more: Hypocrite much: Akshay Kumar once considered Daan and Chadhawa as wasteful things, and now he has made a generous donation to Ram Mandir Trust

He is one of the fittest and disciplined actors in the industry. But it doesn’t make him any less hypocrite than other Bollywood celebs. He has been caught up in the controversies for his latest endorsement as he has also joined the bandwagon of Ajay Devgn and Shah Rukh Khan in the pan masala universe Vimal Pan Masala as an endorser.

A new teaser of Vimal ‘Bolo Zubaan Kesari’ has just been released that features Akshay Kumar. Soon after the teaser was released online, netizens came down heavily on Khiladi Kumar. They have expressed their resentment as the actor who once slammed people for promoting tobacco products, is now himself a part of an advertisement promoting the same.

Taking him to the cleaners, one Twitter user wrote, “1st time laxmii disappointed me for showing love jihad par chalo usme samaj sakte he director/producer ka dabav hoga but why are you endorsing vimal now @akshaykumar! Stop running after money sir use your great acting skill in making great movies ye businessman ban na chhod do.”

Another added, “Listen! ALL INDIA HEALTH & FITNESS EXPERT @akshaykumar’s Views on Tobacco Advertisements, a Few Yrs Back & Now He Has Joined The ‘VIMAL UNIVERSE’, Hypocrite Much @akshaykumar? Ab kya Vimal khaane se Bones aur Muscles Fit Hone lagenge.”

Amitabh Bachchan and his pasand ‘Kamala Pasand’

If you are of the thought that it is only Akshay Kumar who has made beds with pan masala brand, you are wrong. There are many on the list. Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan has severed ties with Pan Masala company ‘Kamala Pasand’, days after the commercial was aired and he received extensive backlash from the public. Reportedly, Amitabh in his blog claimed that he was not aware of the ‘tobacco’ product he was advertising. However, when he came to know about it, he terminated the contract and returned the money.

Read more: Dear Amitabh Bachchan, you fully knew what you were getting into so stop the ‘innocence’ charade

“Upon checking why this sudden move – it was revealed that when Mr Bachchan became associated with the brand, he wasn’t aware that it falls under surrogate advertising.” read the blog.

Mr Bachchan claiming that he wasn’t aware of the product he was advertising is rich and cute considering he must have signed all the requisite contracts himself after carefully going through them.

You see, the list of actors endorsing ‘Pan Masala’ is huge. From Ajay Devgan to Amitabh Bachchan, From Ranbir Kapoor to new entrant Akshay Kumar, Bollywood seemingly is obsessed with ‘Pan Masala’. These actors across the country endorse such brands. No one is suggesting Akshay, or any other celeb stop promoting the brand as they are well within their rights to play ball for them. However, they should stop preaching what they cannot follow.