Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty has revealed that he turned down a ₹40 crore offer to endorse a tobacco brand, stating that promoting such products would tarnish his family’s reputation and goes against his personal beliefs.
Suniel Shetty on Turning Down the Offer
Speaking on the Peeping Moon podcast, Shetty explained why he has never endorsed tobacco products despite lucrative offers. He said, “My health is the reason for my success. My body gave Suniel Shetty a chance in films. If I don’t respect it, I would be doing injustice to myself. What legacy would I leave for my children? I may not be at my peak in terms of cinema or box office today, but young audiences aged 17 to 20 still give me incredible love and respect, which is unbelievable.”
He further revealed, “I was offered ₹40 crore to advertise tobacco. I told them, ‘Do you really think I would fall for this?’ I will not do it. Maybe I needed the money at the time, but no. I will never promote something I don’t believe in, because it would leave a stain on Ahan, Athiya, Rahul, and all of us. After that, no one would even dare to contact me.”
Context in Bollywood
Several Bollywood stars have faced criticism for endorsing tobacco or alcohol products. Actors like Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn faced backlash for promoting paan masala brands. While Ajay reportedly ignored the criticism, Akshay later apologized to his fans for his involvement in the ad campaign.
Suniel Shetty’s Upcoming Projects
On the work front, Suniel Shetty will next be seen in Welcome to the Jungle, part of the Welcome franchise, featuring an ensemble cast including Paresh Rawal, Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Lara Dutta, Raveena Tandon, and Disha Patani. The film, initially scheduled for release last December, is now set for the end of this year. He is also working with Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal in Priyadarshan’s Hera Pheri 3.
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