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METRO FORUM
Thank you for smoking
Do actors make smoking look cool, sophisticated and very glamorous? The debate has been doing the rounds and the country’s health minister has brought it up again.
Actors are all up in arms about it – protesting about creative freedom and censorship. While according to the health minister, 52 per cent of children start smoking thanks to movie stars.
Shah Rukh Khan, a smoker himself, is the latest to have been pulled up by the Health ministry. But he argues that puffing onscreen is “make-believe”. And going by his statement, it means everything on screen is from another world and has no impact in real life – from eve-harassment to violence.
According to estimates – about 250 million Indians use tobacco, killing more than 900,000 people every year.
So should actors set an example for the mass following – especially in a country like ours where cinema sets trends and has such a huge fan network? Or should they be given the freedom to smoke to “suit the role” – endorsing cigarette brands and even agreeing that a character “wouldn’t be complete without a ciggie between his/her’s fingers” or do we leave it to the impressionable viewers to be better judges?
Scenes with actors smoke do not have any influence over people. Kids might get affected – but parents should guide them. Actors need to smoke to support their role for the movie. In some cases, however, creative freedom should be sacrificed.
Ravi
Software engineer
Actors should not be allowed to smoke on screen. They have a greater impact on the minds of youngsters. The young generation look up to them as role models – especially their favourite actor. People will want to imitate and copy their favourite actors.
Nivedita
PR professional
Actors who smoke on screen do not have a real impact on the lives of people. I have seen a number of movies, and though I smoke, it isn’t because of watching actors who smoke. People are mature enough to understand the impact of smoking.
Rammohan
Software engineer
Actors should not smoke on screen. They should influence the minds of youngsters by doing good things. So if they support bad habits on screen, then it will definitely affect their fans’ health. They should focus on giving good entertainment and messages.
Nagesh
Sales manager
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