Cinema VinesSunny Deol has made it unequivocally clear that he will never endorse pan‑masala products, even as the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scrutinises other Bollywood stars for similar promotions. The veteran actor’s statement comes after Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff received a show‑cause notice from the FDA for an advertisement that could be seen as an indirect promotion of a prohibited pan‑masala brand.
In a recent interview on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube channel, Deol explained that he rejects brand deals that conflict with his principles. “I don’t do pan‑masala ads and kabhi karunga bhi nahi,” he said, adding that he receives offers but chooses not to accept them because they do not align with his conscience. “I don’t want to do something which I don’t believe in,” he added, emphasizing that his moral compass guides his professional choices.
The FDA’s notice points to a 2024 commercial featuring Vimal’s elaichi (cardamom) that starred the trio of Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff. Vimal is known for its pan‑masala products, and the agency warned that the campaign could amount to surrogate or indirect promotion of prohibited tobacco‑related items. The actors have 15 days to submit a written explanation, or further legal action may follow.
While Deol’s comments were focused on the pan‑masala issue, he also touched on his broader approach to endorsements. “There are so many things I don’t do because my conscience doesn’t allow it, and the ones that need to be done, I simply do,” he said, underscoring his commitment to integrity over commercial gain.
Deol’s latest film, Batwara 1947, is currently in theatres. The movie, backed by Aamir Khan, reunites the actor with director Rajkumar Santoshi after nearly three decades since their 1996 collaboration, Ghatak. Despite the high‑profile partnership, the film has received lukewarm reviews from both audiences and critics.
