“My Health Is My Temple”: Sunil Shetty on Saying No to Tobacco Endorsements
Suniel Shetty: Recently, actor Sunil Shetty turned down a Rs. 40 crore advertisement. Now, he has spoken out and explained why he turned it down.
There are a number of actors involved in tobacco and alcohol-related advertisements, and this issue often becomes a subject of debate too. These advertisements also create a lot of revenue, and in return, actors often face trolling too. Recently, Bollywood actor Sunil Shetty rejected a tobacco ad that offered him 40 crores. Now, he has spoken up.
In a conversation with the Peeping Moon podcast, Sunil Shetty explained why he refused to endorse tobacco brands despite receiving substantial payments. He said, "I am who I am because of my health. It was my body that gave Sunil Shetty a chance in films. If I don't consider this my place of worship, I would be doing myself a disservice. What legacy will I leave behind for my children?" I may not be as important in cinema today, but even today, young people between the ages of 17 and 20 love and respect me a lot.
Sunil Shetty further said, "I was offered a tobacco advertisement worth 40 crore rupees. I looked at them and said, 'Do you really think I'll do it? I won't.' Maybe I needed the money, but no. I won't do anything I don't believe in. If I do it, it will tarnish the image of Ahan, Athiya, and Rahul. After that, no one dared to offer it to me."
