Now Reading: Sunny Deol’s old pan masala ad resurfaces after his anti-endorsement claim
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Sunny Deol’s old pan masala ad resurfaces after his anti-endorsement claim
Sunny Deol’s old pan masala ad resurfaces after his anti-endorsement claim
Bollywood actor Sunny Deol is facing online ridicule after an old advertisement for a meetha pan masala brand resurfaced, contradicting his recent statement that he would never promote such products even for crores. In the ad, which also features Ravi Kishan and Vijay Raaz, Deol is seen endorsing the product with his signature displayed on packets.
Times of India reports that Deol made the claim on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast, saying his conscience does not allow him to promote tobacco, pan masala or alcohol. Odisha TV notes the resurfacing comes amid Maharashtra FDA scrutiny of similar endorsements by Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff. Deol's remarks were widely praised before the old ad emerged.
Social media users have called out the apparent inconsistency, with one comment saying others sell elaichi but Deol sold pan masala directly. The controversy adds to the debate over celebrity endorsements as the FDA has warned of fines up to Rs 10 lakh for violators.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both sources report the same facts but differ in framing emphasis. Times of India leads with the viral contradiction and fan mockery, using a sensationalist tone in its headline and user quotes. Odisha TV contextualises the story within the broader FDA crackdown and Deol's detailed podcast quotes, offering a more neutral-report framing. Neither outlet questions whether the old ad was for a product containing tobacco or just a meetha pan variant, which leaves ambiguity. A careful reader should note that Deol's past commercial does not automatically invalidate his current stance, especially if the product was a non-tobacco variant. The next development to watch is any FDA action against Deol or clarification from his team.
The coverage is uniform straight reporting with no significant stance variation. Both outlets present the resurfaced ad and Deol's podcast remarks without editorialising, though Times of India's headline leans toward entertainment gossip. The implications are that celebrity consistency on ethical endorsements remains a fragile public relations issue, especially as regulatory scrutiny grows.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com (sensationalist), odishatv.in (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
