Big B douses Family cigar fire, apologises

NOTE had accused him of violating the Tobacco Act by smoking in an advert of his recent film.

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan has apologised to the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication for "violating Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act.

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NOTE-India had accused the megastar of violating the 2003 Act by appearing in a hoarding of his recent film Family which shows him smoking a cigar.

Bachchan was also served a legal notice and was given eight days time to reply, NOTE Secretary Shekhar Salkar said.

"NOTE has taken strong objection to the hoarding displayed along national highway near Panaji city which advertises yet-to-be released Family movie along with anchor appliances. Amitabh is shown putting cigar in his mouth," Salkar said.

The hoarding came to notice on December 25 and was taken off on January one only when NOTE-India issued advertisement in local newspapers pointing to the violation of section of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act 2003, Salkar said.

He also said such hoardings are also banned under Goa Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act, 1997.

"I know Amitabh as a non-smoker and his act of posing with a cigar in hand will influence a lot of people who will opt for smoking," Salkar said.