‘Ban them’: How Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn defended association with controversial brand ads

Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff faced scrutiny from the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after appearing in ads for Vimal Elaichi, leading to allegations of surrogate advertising for the prohibited Vimal Pan Masala. The controversy reignited interest in the Bollywood actors' earlier statements regarding their associations with potentially harmful products.

The Indian Express reported on August 16 that the FDA had issued show-cause notices to Shah Rukh, Ajay, and Tiger, requesting explanations for their involvement in ads that the regulator claims associate the Vimal Pan Masala brand indirectly with the actors. Shah Rukh Khan has not directly addressed his connection with the Vimal brand, but he previously detailed his stance on endorsing unhealthy products during an interview with CNN-IBN.

He appealed to authorities to ban such products, stating that if they are deemed harmful, their production should be halted. Ajay Devgn also defended his endorsement of Vimal Elaichi, emphasizing that personal choices should be respected and that if a product is wrong, it should not be sold. Tiger Shroff, in contrast, has yet to comment on the controversy but began appearing in Vimal Elaichi ads following Akshay Kumar's withdrawal due to public backlash.