Ever noticed how, just before your favourite movie starts, you’re shown a stark warning against smoking? Well, filmmaker Sanjay Gupta is pointing out a curious contradiction: while cinemas push anti-smoking messages, Bollywood itself seems to be happily showcasing smoking in its movie posters. He’s questioning why this double standard exists, especially when it comes to promoting upcoming films.
On Sunday, September 27, Gupta took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to highlight this issue. He posted a collage featuring prominent Bollywood actors – Ranbir Kapoor in the film ‘Animal’, Ranveer Singh in ‘Dhurandhar’, and Vicky Kaushal in ‘Love & War’. In each of these posters, the actors are depicted with cigarettes, making smoking a part of their character’s portrayal and the film’s promotional material.
The Visual Clash: Posters vs. Public Service Ads
Gupta’s concern is that these stylishly presented smoking visuals in posters can, even indirectly, normalise or glamorise the act of smoking, especially for impressionable young audiences. This, he feels, directly clashes with the mandatory anti-smoking public service announcements (PSAs) that are played before films. He’s essentially asking: if smoking is so bad that we must warn people in theatres, why are filmmakers allowed to promote it so prominently in their own promotional content?
A Call for Consistency in Messaging
This isn’t the first time Bollywood has faced scrutiny for its portrayal of smoking. Health activists and concerned citizens have often raised their voices about how smoking is depicted on screen. Gupta’s latest observation brings this debate back into the spotlight, urging for a more consistent approach. It’s about ensuring that the messages we receive from our entertainment industry align with public health goals. For everyday Indians, this means questioning the mixed signals we get and hoping for a clearer, healthier narrative from our beloved film stars and the movies they make.