Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta expressed concern over the industry's constant reliance on smoking imagery in the looks of leading actors and in advertising campaigns. He published a collage on Sunday featuring Ranbir Kapoor (from the drama-action film 'Animal'), Ranveer Singh (from the upcoming thriller 'Dhurandhar'), and Vicky Kaushal (from the historical drama 'Love and War'), all showcasing their looks with cigarettes.
Speaking on social media platform X, Gupta pointed out the contradiction between mandatory anti-tobacco warnings in cinemas and how movie marketing posters appear. He questioned the point of watching 'unpleasant' anti-tobacco videos before and during film screenings if the posters themselves contain such imagery.
In response to this criticism, one X user referenced the song 'Rama Re' from the 2002 action film 'Kante,' which mentioned smoking, calling Gupta's approach ironic. In reply to this comment, Sanjay noted that mandatory anti-tobacco warnings did not exist in that era. He wrote: 'There were no anti-tobacco ads back then, genius.'
Many users supported his concerns, sparking a wide discussion about the trend of normalizing tobacco use in films. One user compared this to alcohol consumption warnings shown when watching shows on Netflix and Apple. Another user stated that all scenes involving smoking and alcohol consumption should be banned, arguing that public media should not be used for unhealthy promotion.
One post on X also noted that regardless of any changes, posters will remain, and cigarettes will retain their place in the image, casting doubt on the real effectiveness of such messages.
This criticism comes against the backdrop of stricter regulations in Indian cinema regarding the depiction of psychoactive substances. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) recently introduced updated guidelines approved by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under the Cinematograph Act. Under the new rules, films depicting narcotics must now display an anti-drug warning.
Furthermore, existing restrictions on content related to violence, sensitive issues, and international relations have been tightened. The new directives require displaying a screen warning in scenes showing illegal drug consumption, use, or trafficking. The warning states: 'Illegal drugs destroy health and lead to imprisonment. Say no to drugs.'
