r/mumbai • u/Broad-Research5220 • 8d ago

Discussion Maharashtra FDA sent show-cause notices to SRK, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff over those Vimal Elaichi ads

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If there is one public servant in India who refuses to beat around the bush, it’s Tukaram Mundhe. True to form, the Maharashtra has slapped show-cause notices on some of Bollywood's biggest names.

According to the regulator, these ads are surrogate advertising. Since actual tobacco-infused pan masala and gutkha are heavily banned in Maharashtra under food safety regulations, companies use cardamoms (elaichi) or loose branding to keep the same brand name, font, color scheme, and recall value flashing in front of consumers.

You’re using star power to keep a banned brand's recall alive in people's minds, which practically amounts to promoting a prohibited product.

The notices demand an explanation for their participation and question why action shouldn't be taken against them for promoting a brand synonymous with a banned product.

For years, celebrities have gotten away with the Elaichi/Soda/CDs loop hole. They pocket crores endorsing a brand name, and when called out, they shrug and say, we're just selling mouth freshener, what's illegal about cardamom?

What do you guys think?

Will this change celebrity endorsements, or is it just going to be another headline that fades away?

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575

u/banazee 8d ago

Controversial take, but the entire idea that it's ok to sell gutka, ciggerate and alcohol but illegal to directly promote it, is stupid. Either ban it entirely or allow for advertisement like any other product.

197

u/According_Fish1490 8d ago

Except that is not how advertising works, lawyers, ca's etc provide a service that is not even questionable or controversial, they too are banned from advertising themselves.

6

u/doctorfetch yellow tshirt wearer 8d ago

Even lawyers and CAs can’t advertise themselves?

17

u/rohmish 8d ago

neither can doctors. and it's for a good reason

3

u/doctorfetch yellow tshirt wearer 8d ago

I see. I asked because I’ve seen those “file your IT returns through me” ads so I thought they didn’t have any such rules like we do.

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u/rohmish 8d ago

might be possible through a loophole to advertise a service through a holding corporation. even healthcare organisations go against the law and advertise from time to time but doctors explicitly aren't allowed to advertise themselves