Mumbai:
Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt hasdecided against endorsing gutka brands and tobacco products,saying he realised that young and impressionable minds can beinfluenced adversely through these brand promotions.
Sources close to the actor said Dutt had read newspaperreports about doctors asking him to stop endorsing gutkaproducts in a letter.
"He had not received any such letter. But, he made up hismind to do so. He will not renew his contract with the gutkabrand," they said.
According to the sources, Dutt is also trying to quitsmoking.
"He would like to set an example for his kids. He hasdecided to stop using and endorsing products that areconsidered bad for health. However, all this will happenslowly, as there is also his existing contract with the gutkacompany to consider," they said.
"The actor has realised that young and impressionableminds can be influenced adversely through these brandpromotions. He is planning to take corrective measures soon,"they added.
Doctors organisations had last week written a letter tothe actor asking him to stop endorsing gutka and tobacco.
The letter said the actor had witnessed pain of cancer inhis family and hence should disassociate himself fromaddictive and lethal substances.
The doctors had reminded the actor of his influence onyoung impressionable minds and also urged him to consider hislate father Sunil Dutt's campaign against cancer.
Meanwhile, city doctors have welcomed Dutt's positiveresponse to their request.
"It means a lot to us that he has been influenced by ourcampaign. We hope more and more people are motivated to kickthe tobacco habit," said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, associateprofessor, head and neck cancer department, Tata Memorialhospital.
Sources close to the actor said Dutt had read newspaperreports about doctors asking him to stop endorsing gutkaproducts in a letter.
"He had not received any such letter. But, he made up hismind to do so. He will not renew his contract with the gutkabrand," they said.
According to the sources, Dutt is also trying to quitsmoking.
"He would like to set an example for his kids. He hasdecided to stop using and endorsing products that areconsidered bad for health. However, all this will happenslowly, as there is also his existing contract with the gutkacompany to consider," they said.
"The actor has realised that young and impressionableminds can be influenced adversely through these brandpromotions. He is planning to take corrective measures soon,"they added.
Doctors organisations had last week written a letter tothe actor asking him to stop endorsing gutka and tobacco.
The letter said the actor had witnessed pain of cancer inhis family and hence should disassociate himself fromaddictive and lethal substances.
The doctors had reminded the actor of his influence onyoung impressionable minds and also urged him to consider hislate father Sunil Dutt's campaign against cancer.
Meanwhile, city doctors have welcomed Dutt's positiveresponse to their request.
"It means a lot to us that he has been influenced by ourcampaign. We hope more and more people are motivated to kickthe tobacco habit," said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, associateprofessor, head and neck cancer department, Tata Memorialhospital.
