Not anymore, Audience will no more witness Akshay Kumar’s famous anti-smoking ad, which is famously known as the “Nandu ad” in cinema screens before film viewing. According to reports by Bollywood Hungama, the CBFC has apparently decided to stop the ad from playing in cinema halls and replace it with a new one instead.
The new ad, which has replaced Akshay Kumar’s, says quitting tobacco will bring good change in the body in just 20 minutes. However, the reason behind the removal of the Nandu advertisement is unknown.
The new ad started appearing in theatres with the recent release including Alia Bhatt’s Jigra and Vicky Aur Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video where Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri acted.
The Nandu ad, which carried Akshay Kumar, had first released along with the time of his 2018 film *Gold*, and around the time when *Padman*, who spoke about Arunachalam Muruganantham, the man behind affordable sanitary pads for rural women, was being released.
The advertisement shows Ajay Singh Pal performing as Nandu who smokes near a hospital. It is after he is approached by this Akshay Kumar’s character which tells him that the money he spends on cigarettes can be used to buy sanitary pads for his wife. This will solve the hygiene problem.
A multiplex official, “It was my favorite anti-smoking ad as it delivered an important message without any disturbing visuals. It was also amusing to see moviegoers repeat the dialogues. After all, they had been watching it for six years. Many viewers had memorized all its lines! I am sure I, along with other moviegoers, will surely miss the ad.”
