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After Sunny Deol says he’d 'never do pan masala ads’, his old ad resurfaces amid FDA notices to SRK, Ajay Devgn

Amid FDA actions against Bollywood stars for pan masala promotions, Sunny Deol had asserted he would never endorse such products.

Updated on: Aug 18, 2026, 09:26:15 IST
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Bollywood actor Sunny Deol recently said that he has never done pan masala advertisements and would never do one because it goes against his conscience. Sunny's statement came at a time when the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued show-cause notices to Ajay Devgn, Shah Rukh Khan and Tiger Shroff for featuring in Vimal Elaichi advertisements.

Sunny Deol in old pan masala ad

Sunny Deol old pan masala ad resurfaces.
Sunny Deol old pan masala ad resurfaces.

However, the internet has now dug up an old advertisement featuring Sunny Deol in what appears to be a pan masala commercial, and the video has since been doing the rounds on social media. Along with Sunny Deol, the commercial also features actors Ravi Kishan and Vijay Raaz.

The video shows Sunny arriving at a paan shop with two women, who ask for meetha paan. The commercial then goes on to show Sunny consuming the meetha paan, with his photograph also displayed on the packaging of the pan masala. However, the packaging prominently carries the claims “No tobacco” and “No nicotine”. The resurfaced advertisement has now caught the attention of social media users, particularly in light of Sunny's recent comments about not endorsing pan masala. Take a look:

Deep Dive

What prompted Sunny Deol's recent comments about pan masala ads?

Sunny Deol stated that he would never endorse pan masala ads due to his personal beliefs and conscience. His comments came during a time when the FDA issued notices to other celebrities for similar endorsements.

What action did the Maharashtra FDA take concerning celebrities endorsing pan masala products?

The Maharashtra FDA issued show-cause notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff for their participation in Vimal Elaichi advertisements, which could be seen as indirect promotion of pan masala, a prohibited product in Maharashtra.

How does the FDA regulate advertisements related to pan masala and tobacco products?

The FDA enforces regulations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, which restrict misleading advertising and surrogate promotions. Violators may face penalties and are required to justify their endorsements within a specified period.
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What did Sunny say?

“Kitni cheezein nahi karta because mera zameer nahi manta isliye aur joh karni hoti hai woh kar leta hoon (There are so many things I don't do because my conscience doesn't allow it, and the ones that need to be done, I simply do)," he said.

Shah Rukh, Ajay get FDA notice

Recently, Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff were issued notices by the FDA over their alleged indirect promotion of pan masala, a prohibited product in Maharashtra. The three actors had featured in an advertisement promoting Vimal's elaichi (cardamom) in 2024. Vimal is a brand associated with pan masala products. The FDA has said that the campaign could amount to surrogate or indirect promotion of prohibited pan masala or tobacco-related products.

The show-cause notice gives the actors 15 days from the date of receipt to submit a written explanation. The FDA warned that if no explanation is received, or if the explanation is found to be unsatisfactory, further action may be initiated under applicable law.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vibha Maru

Vibha Maru is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Delhi. With a decade of experience across digital and print media, she covers Bollywood, Hollywood and web shows. A self-confessed cinephile who breathes Hindi cinema, Vibha can often be found sacrificing sleep after binge-watching films and web series. Though she holds a Commerce degree, she discovered her true calling in journalism after enrolling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She began her career covering Delhi's cultural scene, food, nightlife, concerts, and city life at The Times of India, before moving into full-time entertainment journalism with India Today. At India Today, Vibha interviewed some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television while carving a niche for herself through film reviews, opinion pieces, nostalgic features, celebrity interviews, and trend-driven stories. She later brought her storytelling and editorial expertise to The Indian Express, where she continued to deepen her understanding of cinema through long-form entertainment explainers, retrospectives and feature writing. Now, as Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, Vibha continues to chronicle the world of movies and pop culture. Her work spans breaking entertainment news, exclusive interviews, celebrity features, and stories that capture the conversations shaping Indian cinema.

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