A hoarding displaying the megastar smoking a cigar in his forthcoming film Family has kindled a row.
National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE-India) has accused megastar Amitabh Bachchan of violating Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 by appearing in an advertisement which shows him smoking a cigar and served a legal notice to him.
"The legal notice is served giving eight days time for Bachchan 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.
{{/usCountry}}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.
{{/usCountry}}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.