Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff have landed in major legal trouble. The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially issued strict show cause notices to all three actors over their promotional advertisements for Vimal Elaichi.
The government body stated that these commercials are a form of surrogate advertising. Even though the ads feature cardamom (elaichi), the FDA noted that they are cleverly used to indirectly promote pan masala and tobacco related products, which are legally banned in the state of Maharashtra.
According to the regulatory authorities, using the famous brand name creates a direct mental connection with prohibited pan masala, which can easily mislead everyday consumers. Taking a very tough stand on the issue, the FDA has given the actors a strict deadline of 15 days to submit a proper written explanation.
Along with the explanation, the stars have been directed to immediately stop working on these campaigns and delete all promotional videos and posts from their official social media handles, websites, and other digital platforms. The government has also asked the actors to show proof of whether Vimal Elaichi is genuinely sold as an independent product in the market or if it is just a trick to advertise banned items. If the actors fail to reply within the given time or if their answers are found unsatisfactory, the FDA may take further strict legal action against them.
