Shah Rukh Khan, one of Bollywood’s most celebrated actors, has always been candid about his views on various aspects of his career, including the controversial topic of endorsing products like soft drinks. In a recent viral clip from an interview with CNN, Khan responded to criticisms about endorsing soft drinks, especially those deemed harmful to children. Rather than defending his role as a brand ambassador, Shah Rukh took a more direct and pragmatic stance.
He urged the authorities to take decisive action if they truly believed soft drinks were harmful, saying, “I would appeal to any authority like that. Ban it. Don’t let it sell in our country. If you think it’s bad for children, ban it.” He then drew a parallel with the government’s stance on smoking, remarking that if they consider cold drinks harmful, they should stop the production of such items, just as they do with cigarettes. He pointed out the contradiction between the government’s tolerance of products that generate revenue and its condemnation of those that are potentially harmful.
In a broader sense, Shah Rukh made an impassioned plea for greater consistency in policy, stressing that if something is genuinely harmful, it should be banned outright. He stated, “See, my logic is, you are not stopping it because it gives you revenue. Let’s be honest about it. You’re not stopping certain products if you think they’re harmful, but they’re revenue to the government. Don’t stop my revenue. I’m an actor. I’m supposed to do a job and get revenue from it.”
Shah Rukh’s remarks were part of a larger conversation about censorship in cinema, particularly when it comes to the portrayal of smoking. The actor shared his thoughts on how censoring smoking scenes in films could set a dangerous precedent, limiting creative freedom. He made the case that, in today’s world, the public is savvy enough to understand the fictional nature of such portrayals and that censoring them would be an unnecessary step. He said, “The whole larger issue is that today smoking, tomorrow what? And where does it go ahead with this? An art form should be left alone.”
Khan also expressed his belief that the Indian public is educated enough to discern that smoking in films doesn’t directly influence their own habits. In his view, authorities should focus on more significant health issues, rather than micromanaging small aspects of media representation. He added, “I think the powers should look at bigger health issues than smoking in films.”
On the professional front, Shah Rukh Khan has been garnering attention for his role in Rajkumar Hirani's Dunki, which has been widely discussed. The actor is now turning his attention to his upcoming project, King, where he is set to star alongside his daughter Suhana Khan and actor Abhishek Bachchan. This film, which is still in the early stages, promises to be yet another exciting chapter in Khan’s illustrious career.
