President Droupadi Murmu has urged popular film artists to refrain from endorsing products that could harm public health, highlighting their influence on children and young people. Speaking at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22, she said celebrities can shape public habits and should use their visibility responsibly. Her appeal comes amid renewed scrutiny of celebrity endorsements of products linked to pan masala and tobacco, following regulatory action involving actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over a Vimal Elaichi advertisement.
‘A True Star Spreads Light’
Murmu said successful artists have the ability to influence millions, particularly younger audiences who often look up to film personalities. “When successful film artists speak about the benefits of a disciplined lifestyle, millions of children and young people emulate them,” she said, urging popular artists not to endorse products harmful to people’s health. She added, “A true star is the one who spreads light, not darkness.” The President’s remarks formed part of a broader address on the responsibilities of the creative industry, alongside her call for dignity and social security for workers, assistants, small-scale artists and others who contribute to filmmaking.
The President’s comments also arrive at a time when celebrity advertising is facing greater regulatory attention. Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has issued show-cause notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over their association with a Vimal Elaichi advertisement. The FDA has alleged that the advertisement amounts to surrogate promotion of Vimal pan masala, a product prohibited in Maharashtra. Mundhe has maintained that celebrity status does not exempt individuals from regulatory scrutiny when they participate in advertising.
A Debate Around Celebrity Responsibility
The Vimal Elaichi matter has moved beyond advertising into the legal and regulatory arena. On September 15, the Delhi High Court dismissed a plea challenging the notices, holding that courts in Maharashtra were the more appropriate forum for the challenge because the notices had been issued by the Maharashtra FDA. The ruling did not determine whether the actors had violated the law; the regulatory proceedings remain a separate matter.
The debate over endorsements is not limited to actors. Advertisers, brands, agencies, celebrities and regulators all play roles in determining what messages reach consumers. Murmu’s intervention places particular emphasis on the influence of public figures, especially when their audiences include young people. Her remarks also reinforce a wider question about whether commercial endorsements should be considered solely as business arrangements or also in terms of their potential social and public-health impact.
The 72nd National Film Awards themselves celebrated the diversity and contribution of Indian cinema. Veteran actor Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, while the ceremony recognised films and artists across several Indian languages and regions. Murmu also called for greater participation of women in regional juries, saying that women’s perspectives can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of creative work and society.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Fame comes with reach, and reach can influence how people think, behave and make everyday choices. President Murmu’s appeal offers an opportunity to have a constructive conversation about responsibility without reducing the issue to individual blame. Celebrities, brands, advertising agencies and regulators can all contribute to a culture where commercial communication is transparent and public health is treated with care.
For audiences, especially young people, informed choices also depend on knowing the difference between entertainment, advertising and responsible consumption. Should celebrities be expected to consider the wider social impact of the products they endorse, and how can the industry make such advertising more responsible?
मैं यह अनुरोध करना चाहूंगी कि लोकप्रिय कलाकार स्वास्थ्य के लिए हानिकारक पदार्थों का endorsement न करें। Star वही है जो रोशनी फैलाए, अंधेरा नहीं। pic.twitter.com/5VPwBxK4Y2
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 22, 2026
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