Sunny Deol has taken a firm and unwavering stance against endorsing pan masala products, despite receiving numerous offers. The veteran actor candidly expressed his ethical reservations, stating that such endorsements fundamentally conflict with his personal values. He elaborated on this principle during an appearance on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, unequivocally declaring, “I don’t do pan masala ads and kabhi karunga bhi nahi.” He emphasized that he is unwilling to promote anything in which he doesn’t genuinely believe, asserting, “I don’t want to do something which I don’t believe in.” This conviction stems from a deeper belief that these products are not beneficial, as he articulated, “Main in sab cheezon ko manta nahi hoon. I don’t think this is a good thing to promote.” This ethical framework, he revealed, has guided many of his career decisions, leading him to decline various opportunities that failed to align with his conscience. “Kitni cheezein nahi karta because mera zameer nahi manta isliye aur jo karni hoti hai voh kar leta hoon,” he added, illustrating his consistent commitment to his principles.
Interestingly, Deol also pondered why he hasn’t been as prominent in the advertising world compared to many of his peers, who frequently secure lucrative brand deals. He confessed to being genuinely perplexed by this disparity, given his stature. “If I represent India and I represent the way of everything else, somehow ads don’t come to me. Why don’t they come to me? I have no idea,” he remarked. He drew a parallel to a period in his film career when roles were similarly scarce, observing, “Just like films which were not coming before, I don’t know the same about the ads.”
His outspoken comments come at a particularly relevant time, as the issue of Bollywood celebrities endorsing pan masala-related brands has come under increased scrutiny. The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued show-cause notices to prominent actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff for their involvement in a Vimal Elaichi advertisement. The FDA contends that the advertisement appears to be an “indirect or surrogate” promotion of banned pan masala and tobacco products, particularly given that it uses the same branding as Vimal Pan Masala. The notices, issued by the FDA’s Greater Mumbai division, specifically addressed the trio as brand endorsers and demanded a response within 15 days.
On the professional front, Sunny Deol is currently involved in ‘Batwara 1947’ and is also slated to appear as Lord Hanuman in Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming film ‘Ramayana’. His steadfast refusal to endorse products like pan masala highlights a growing ethical debate within the Bollywood industry.
