New Delhi: After his appearance in a surrogate advertisement of Pan Bahar, a pan masala brand, Hollywood actor Pierce Brosnan has stated that he was "cheated" by the company which kept him in the dark about the "hazardous" nature of the product.
"In a written reply to the Delhi State Tobacco Control Cell, the actor stated that he was cheated by the company as the latter did not disclose the hazardous nature of the product and other terms and conditions of the contract of advertisement," Additional Director (Health) SK Arora told PTI.
The Delhi government had recently issued a show-cause notice to Mr Brosnan and asked the pan masala group why appropriate punitive action be not initiated against its directors and office-bearers.
"In his reply to the legal notice, (Pierce) Brosnan also said that his agreement with the company was over and he was ready to extend all kinds of support and cooperation to our department against such campaigns.
"He has given an undertaking in writing that he would never assist any company with regard to promotion of such products or other such harmful products in future," Mr Arora said.
The official appealed to all celebrities and mass media agencies to not indulge in surrogate advertisements of tobacco in the name of pan masala, tea, ilaichi or other goods as these are prohibited under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.
"Celebrities must realise their responsibility towards society, especially the youngsters who treat them like God and follow them blindly. Such advertisements influence the minds of youngsters adversely," he said.
The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act, 2003 bans all kinds of direct and indirect advertisements of tobacco products.
"In a written reply to the Delhi State Tobacco Control Cell, the actor stated that he was cheated by the company as the latter did not disclose the hazardous nature of the product and other terms and conditions of the contract of advertisement," Additional Director (Health) SK Arora told PTI.
The Delhi government had recently issued a show-cause notice to Mr Brosnan and asked the pan masala group why appropriate punitive action be not initiated against its directors and office-bearers.
"He has given an undertaking in writing that he would never assist any company with regard to promotion of such products or other such harmful products in future," Mr Arora said.
Advertisement
"Celebrities must realise their responsibility towards society, especially the youngsters who treat them like God and follow them blindly. Such advertisements influence the minds of youngsters adversely," he said.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Canadian Fashion Writer Reviews Pierce Brosnan's Wimbledon Look. Bonus: Big B Connection Pierce Brosnan Hit With 2 Charges After Entering Off-Limit Areas In Yellowstone National Park "Love In The Heart": 'James Bond' Actor Pierce Brosnan Shares Secret Of His Long Marriage Centre Fact-Checks Mamata Banerjee's Mic-Off Claim, She Hits Back At Olympics Opening Ceremony, Drag Parody Of 'The Last Supper' Draws Flak Children Of Indian-Americans Face Deportation As Time Runs Out Fake Billing Scam Worth Thousands Of Crores Unearthed: Punjab Minister 'What Kind Of Democracy?' Court Raps Cops For Seeking Action On Professor 11-Year-Old Chinese Boy Writes 600 Lines Of Code To Build Rocket Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.