Murmu Urges Film Stars Not To Endorse Harmful Products

President Droupadi Murmu urged popular film artists on September 22 not to endorse products harmful to people's health, saying their influence over children and young people carries a responsibility that extends beyond entertainment. Speaking at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, Gujarat, Murmu said successful artists shape public habits and should use their visibility accordingly. "When successful artists speak about the benefits of a disciplined lifestyle, millions of children and young people emulate them. I urge popular artists not to endorse products that are harmful to people's health. A true star is the one who spreads light, not darkness," she said. Her remarks came amid heightened regulatory scrutiny of celebrity endorsements linked to pan masala and tobacco products. Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has issued show-cause notices to actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over their association with a Vimal Elaichi advertisement. The FDA has alleged that the advertisement amounts to surrogate promotion of Vimal pan masala, a product prohibited in Maharashtra.