Cinema VinesThe Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a firm stance against Bollywood celebrities endorsing products that could jeopardise public health. On Wednesday, Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe shared a video of President Droupadi Murmu’s address at the 72nd National Film Awards, where she urged film stars to avoid promoting harmful items and to use their influence responsibly.
In his post, Mundhe reiterated the President’s message, saying that “influence is not immunity.” He warned that artists, like everyone else, must respect the law and recognise the responsibility that comes with endorsing products, behaviours and habits that shape public choices. He added that “no one is above the law” and that “influence must never become a licence to promote what may harm public health.”
The FDA’s crackdown has already seen notices issued to prominent actors. Earlier this month, the agency sent notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over a Vimal Elaichi advertisement that the FDA said constituted surrogate promotion of Vimal Pan Masala, a product banned in Maharashtra. The notices cite Section 24 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, which restricts misleading advertisements, and Section 53, under which a party to a misleading food advertisement can face a penalty of up to ₹10 lakh.
Commissioner Mundhe explained to NDTV that while the actors are “stars,” in this case they are “only advertisers,” and that the law will take its own course. He said the FDA is acting “as per the law” and that “the law will take its own course” when violations occur.
Earlier this year, the Maharashtra FDA gained notoriety for raiding Mumbai food joints and shutting down establishments with unsafe and unsanitary conditions. The agency’s latest focus on celebrity endorsements marks a shift toward ensuring that public health is not compromised by commercial interests, especially when influential figures are involved.
