Shah Rukh Khan ignores call to chuck the butt

SMOKESCRE(A)M: Shah Rukh Khan says filmmakers should have creative liberties.

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Keywords: Rajinikant, Films

New Delhi: A day after Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss appealed to Shah Rukh Khan and other actors to quit smoking onscreen, the King Khan chose creative liberty to 'no smoking'.

“I agree with what Mr Ramadoss said. Having said that as filmmakers we should have creative liberties because cinema is all about make believe,” Shah Rukh Khan said.

Ramadoss had said Shah Rukh should not have smoked in the stands while watching a cricket match in Mumbai.

He had also said that Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan could learn a thing or two from superstar Rajinikant regarding smoking onscreen.

Recently, the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication had sent a legal notice to the superstar for allegedly smoking in public on two occasions.

Defending himself Shah Rukh had said that the cricket stadium where he was photographed smoking is a private club as it falls under the Cricket Club of India, moreover the actor noted that there wasn't a ‘No Smoking Zone’ specified in the area.

The actor added that the Hindustan Times Summit where the actor was seen smoking was also a private function.

The National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication had earlier filed a case against superstar Amitabh Bachchan after he was depicted smoking in an advertisement of electrical appliances. That case is still on in the court.

Excerpts from the Ramadoss interview:

Karan Thapar: Given the confusion over the Government’s position on smoking let me perhaps begin by knowing your position on the subject. Do you believe the Government has the duty to discourage smoking?

Anbumani Ramadoss: When I said movies should not have smoking scenes we have statistics which show that 52 per cent of children have their first puff because of movie celebrities.

Karan Thapar: Do you think Shah Rukh Khan should have smoked at a cricket match?

Anbumani Ramadoss: Absolutely not. What was the necessity?

Karan Thapar: If Rajinikant can agree not to smoke in his movies do you think Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan should make a similar commitment?

Anbumani Ramadoss: Easily they could do it. Without a doubt…

Karan Thapar: Rajinikant said that he did it because you made a personal appeal to him, would you make a similar personal appeal...

Anbumani Ramadoss: I have already made appeals to Shah Rukh Khan and others. But I would be happy to do it again and through you and CNN-IBN, I again say: Please don't smoke in your movies Mr Shah Rukh Khan.