New Delhi (PTI): Noted film director Mahesh Bhatt on Monday contended before the Delhi High Court that ban on smoking scenes in films and television programmes would prevent filmmakers from depicting reality on silverscreen.

"I am not glamourising smoking but depicting reality by showing actors smoking in films," senior advocate Sandeep Sethi appearing for the film-maker said, adding that any ban on it would adversely impact depiction of reality in films.

The director's submission came before Justice S K Kaul, who is hearing the matter as an umpire judge after a split verdict by a division bench on filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt's petition challenging the government notification banning smoking scenes in films and television programmes.