Akshay Kumar pulls up a news portal. Akshay Kumar has provided clarification regarding his recent appearance in a new Vimal advertisement, which has raised questions given his prior announcement of discontinuing his endorsement of the tobacco brand. He emphasized that his participation in the new ad should not be construed as a 'return' to Vimal but rather a result of a pre-existing legal contract with the brand.
Addressing a news report that suggested his 'return' to Vimal, Akshay responded on X (formerly Twitter) by setting the record straight. He stated, "Regarding my 'return' as an ambassador – here's a fact check for you, Bollywood Hungama. If you have an interest in credible news, these ads were filmed on October 13, 2021. Since publicly announcing the discontinuation of my endorsement, I have had no association with the brand. They are legally permitted to continue airing the ads already filmed until the end of next month. Let's focus on real news."
Akshay's appearance in the latest Vimal ad alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn drew criticism due to the timing, given his earlier commitment to discontinue endorsing the tobacco brand. He had previously featured in a Vimal ad with fellow actors and faced criticism, particularly because he also serves as the face of an anti-smoking public service announcement played in cinema halls.
At the time of his announcement regarding the discontinuation of his Vimal endorsement, Akshay expressed remorse and apologized to his fans and supporters. He acknowledged the impact of their reactions and clarified his stance, stating, "I have not and will not endorse tobacco." He further pledged to contribute the entire endorsement fee to a charitable cause. While the brand may continue airing the ads as per the legal contract, Akshay assured his fans that he would be highly selective in his future endorsements.
Akshay Kumar's latest film, "Mission Raniganj," was released in cinemas just last week, marking his most recent project in the film industry.