# Murmu urges film stars to avoid endorsing harmful products

2026-09-23T16:06:56+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 4 independent outlets

President Droupadi Murmu has appealed to film celebrities to refrain from endorsing products harmful to health. Speaking at the 72nd National Film Awards in Gujarat on Tuesday, she said true stars spread light, not darkness, and that artists have a powerful influence on young minds. Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe backed the President's call. On Wednesday, he said on X that influence is not immunity and that no one is above the law. The FDA had on August 11 issued notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff over a Vimal Elaichi advertisement alleged to be surrogate advertising for Vimal Pan Masala, which is prohibited in Maharashtra. The Delhi High Court on September 14 declined to entertain a challenge to the notices on territorial grounds. Public health experts quoted by The Hindu have called for clearer legal frameworks to regulate endorsements of harmful products, including tobacco and ultra-processed foods.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

The Hindu builds its report around public health experts and data on tobacco's economic toll, framing the President's appeal as a catalyst for stronger regulation that the current self-regulatory model has not delivered. The other three outlets anchor on Tukaram Mundhe's enforcement action and his repeating of the President's message, treating it as a law-and-order story about a zealous regulator. All four sources report the FDA's notices as a fact, but The Hindu alone adds that the court did not rule on whether the ads were surrogate. The Bharat stage of the story will move when the high court hearing on the merits takes place.

## Coverage

- thehindu.com (pro government) <https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/presidents-call-puts-spotlight-on-celebrity-endorsements-of-harmful-products/article71498767.ece>
  Foregrounds the President's appeal and public health expert support, frames the issue as needing regulatory follow-through.
- newindianexpress.com (neutral report) <https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/maharashtra/2026/Sep/23/maharashtra-fda-chief-tukaram-mundhe-welcomes-bollywood-actors-support-for-food-safety-crackdown>
  Leads with Mundhe's welcome of celebrity support for his FDA crackdown, not the President's appeal or the Vimal notices.
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/nobody-has-licence-to-promote-things-harmful-to-public-health-maharashtra-fda-chief-tukaram-mundhe/articleshow/134434370.cms>
  Reports Mundhe backing Murmu and the Vimal notices as a law enforcement story, no expert or industry perspective.
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/tukaram-mundhe-backs-president-murmu-warns-film-stars-not-to-endorse-harmful-products-bollywood-shah-rukh-ajay-devgn-101790217584413.html>
  Summarises Murmu's speech and Mundhe's X post, adds background on FDA raids and the penalty provision for misleading ads.

Tags: Droupadi Murmu, Maharashtra FDA, Shah Rukh Khan, Surrogate Advertising, Tukaram Mundhe, Vimal Pan Masala
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