Mumbai: Akshay Kumar’s anti-smoking ad will no longer be played at the beginning of movies in theatres now.
After more than six years, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has pulled down the ad for reasons yet unknown, and replaced it with a new ad showing the benefits of quitting tobacco.
The new ad was played in theatres with Alia Bhatt’s ‘Jigra’ and Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri ‘Vicky Aur Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video’.
Talking about the popularity of Akshay Kumar’s anti-smoking ad, an official at a multiplex told Bollywood Hungama, “It was my favourite anti-smoking ad as it gave out an important message without any disturbing visuals. It also used to be amusing to see moviegoers repeating the dialogues from the ad. After all, they were watching the ad for 6 years. The moviegoers had memorized all its lines! I am sure I am and many other moviegoers will surely miss the ad.”
In 2012, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare along with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had made it mandatory for movies with smoking scenes to play anti-smoking ads at the beginning of the movie and after the intermission.
The first anti-smoking ad that was played in theatres, showed a man named Mukesh Harane who died at a young age due to cancer caused by tobacco consumption.
The anti-smoking ads changed from time to time. In 2018, CBFC directed the theatres to play the anti-smoking ad, featuring Akshay Kumar and Ajay Singh Pal, who played Nandu, before movies with smoking scenes. Unlike other ads, this ad wasn’t taken down for more than six years.