“Inko pakad ke maarna chaahiye”: Mukesh Khanna slams Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, SRK for promoting pan masala ads

The actor also urged these actors to refrain from promoting such products, emphasizing the need for responsibility in their endorsements.

Last year, there was a lot of hullaballoos on social media around how big celebs usually come forward and endorse brands that shouldn’t ideally be promoted.

This was in response to an ad promoting a brand which allegedly had tobacco.

One of the very infamous endorsements is that of a commercial which features 3 of the biggest superstars of the country namely Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn.

However, recently, Mukesh Khanna, famous for his roles in ‘Shaktimaan’ and ‘Mahabharat’, has strongly criticized Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, and Ajay Devgn for endorsing pan masala.

In a recent interview, Khanna, who is known for his outspoken nature, had called for a stern action against them.

In a recent chat with Bollywood Bubble, Khanna remarked in a light-hearted manner that he would catch them and beat them up. “Inko pakad ke maarna chaahiye,” he added.

He mentioned that he had already told them and scolded Akshay Kumar.

Khanna also pointed out that such ads cost crores of rupees to produce and expressed concern about the implications of their endorsements. 

He criticized the actors for their role in these promotions, asserting that they are fully aware of what they are doing.

“I have told this to them. Maine toh Akshay Kumar ko daanta bhi. (I have even scolded Akshay Kumar). Health conscious aadmi hai aur kehta hai aadaab. Ajay Devgn bhi kehta hai aadaab aur ab toh Shah Rukh Khan bhi shuru ho gaya (He is such a health-conscious man otherwise, and he says aadaab, Ajay Devgn says aadaab, and now Shah Rukh Khan is doing the same). Crores of rupees are spent on making these ads. Aap kya sikha rahe ho logon ko? (And what are you teaching the people?) (They say) we are not selling pan-masala, they say it’s supari (betel nut). But they know what they are doing,” he exclaimed.

Further talking about surrogate advertising, he said, “When you do a Kingfisher ad, it means you are selling Kingfisher beer. Everybody knows it, it is called a deceptive ad. Why do they do these ads? Do they not have money? I have told them this, don’t do these things, you have a lot of money. Some actors have retrieved it, Akshay is one of them. If I am not wrong, Amitabh Bachchan has also moved away from it. But, till this date, crores of rupees are spent on making these ads… people are spraying colour on each other, (and saying) Kesariya zubaan (saffron tongue). You are teaching people to consume guthka! Don’t do it!”

He also revealed that he has never accepted offers to endorse cigarettes or pan masala, despite being offered substantial amounts of money. 

The actor also urged these actors to refrain from promoting such products, emphasizing the need for responsibility in their endorsements.