The Delhi government reached out to the wives of Bollywood actors, after the stars failed to respond to the government’s letter. The Delhi government had recently written to actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan, Govinda and Sunny Leone requesting them to stop endorsing gutka-pan masala, as they are known to contain cancer causing agents.
However, Sunny Leone was the first to respond to the letter. She had pledged never to endorse the brands again and is also seen in an anti-tobacco campaign.
S K Arora—Additional Director (Health), Delhi Government—wrote to Kajol (Ajay Devgan’s wife), Gauri Khan (Shah Rukh Khan’s wife), Malaika Arora Khan (Arbaaz Khan’s wife) and Suneeta Ahuja (Govinda’s wife) requesting them to persuade the stars to stop endorsing pan masala products.
According to reports, an excerpt from Arora’s letter to Gauri Khan read, “Earlier, a letter was written to Mr Khan for not to participate in such advertisements in public interest. Nonetheless, I have not received any response till date nor he has plugged doing such advertisements.” Arora also praised Sunny Leone in his letters as he wrote, “A similar letter was sent to Ms Sunny Leone and I am delighted to inform that I have received an affirmative response with the assurance of not to indulge in such promotion in future. Moreover, she is consulting the companies for the terms and conditions of present contract to stop advertising pan masalas.”
The Delhi government seems quite keen to ensure that celebrities stop endorsing pan masala brands for larger public interest.
