Akshay Kumar's Popular Ad On Anti-Smoking And Women Hygiene Pulled Down By CBFC After Six Years

According to a new report from Bollywood Hungama, the CBFC has decided to discontinue Akshay Kumar’s anti-smoking ad, replacing it with a new one.

Audiences will no longer see Akshay Kumar in the popular anti-smoking advertisement, affectionately known as the Nandu ad, before films start in theatres. According to a new report from Bollywood Hungama, the CBFC has decided to discontinue Akshay Kumar’s anti-smoking ad, replacing it with a new one.

Akkshay Kumar's popular ad taken down by CBFC

The Nandu ad has been replaced by a new advertisement that highlights how quitting tobacco can lead to positive changes in one's body within just 20 minutes. The new ad was screened in theatres along with films released last Friday, such as Alia Bhatt's 'Jigra' and Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri's 'Vicky Aur Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video'. However, the exact reason for removing the Nandu ad remains unclear.

The ad featuring Akshay Kumar was first introduced in 2018, around the release of his Independence Day film 'Gold'. It also served to promote his 2018 film 'Padman', which was based on Arunachalam Muruganantham’s efforts to create affordable sanitary pads for women in rural India. 

In the ad, Ajay Singh Pal portrayed the character Nandu, seen smoking a cigarette near a hospital. When Akshay Kumar approaches him, he talks about his wife’s hygiene problems, and Akshay suggests that the money spent on two cigarettes could instead be used to buy sanitary pads.

Watch the popular ad here:

 

Meanwhile, a multiplex official told Bollywood Hungama, “It was my favourite anti-smoking ad as it gave out an important message without any disturbing visuals. It also used to be amusing to see moviegoers repeating the dialogues from the ad. After all, they were watching the ad for 6 years. The moviegoers had memorized all its lines! I am sure I am and many other moviegoers will surely miss the ad.”