‘Ban it if it’s harmful’: Shah Rukh Khan defends endorsing soft drinks

In a candid interview, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan addressed criticism for endorsing soft drinks, which some allege are harmful, particularly to children. The actor called for authorities to ban the production and sale of such products if they are deemed dangerous, rather than questioning celebrities for promoting them as part of their profession.

Speaking to CNN (an old video) in a recently resurfaced clip on social media, Shah Rukh asserted, “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. Smoking is bad – don’t let the production of cigarettes continue in this country. If cold drinks are harmful, do not let them be made here. If it’s poisoning our people, stop it at the source.”

The actor further pointed out the seeming contradiction in governmental policies, where health concerns are often sidelined in favour of revenue generation. “The truth is, you’re not stopping these products because they bring in revenue. Let’s be honest. If that’s the case, then don’t penalise me. I’m an actor; my job is to earn a livelihood. If something is genuinely harmful, the responsibility lies with the authorities to put an end to it,” he argued.

Shah Rukh also touched upon censorship in cinema, particularly regarding smoking scenes, and expressed concern over how such restrictions could impact artistic freedom.

“The bigger issue is this: today, it’s smoking; tomorrow, it’ll be something else. Where do you draw the line? Art should be left to flourish without interference. I firmly believe the Indian audience is discerning enough to separate fiction from reality. The notion that someone will start smoking simply because an actor does is outdated. There are far more pressing health issues to address than smoking in films,” he remarked.

Currently, Shah Rukh Khan is gearing up for his next project, tentatively titled “King”, which will feature Suhana Khan and Abhishek Bachchan. His most recent film, “Dunki”, was directed by Rajkumar Hirani.

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