Mumbai, September 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta has questioned the practice of showing leading Bollywood actors smoking in film posters, arguing that it undermines the anti-smoking messages audiences are shown in theatres.
Sanjay took to X on Sunday and shared a collage featuring posters of Ranbir Kapoor from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, Ranveer Singh from Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar and Vicky Kaushal from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War. All three actors are pictured with cigarettes in the posters.
Questioning the contrast between such promotional imagery and anti-smoking messages shown before and during films, Sanjay wrote, “What is the point of those unpleasant anti-smoking reels we have to endure before and during films when these are the posters of the films?”
His post sparked a debate on social media, with one user pointing to Sanjay’s own 2002 film Kaante, in which Sanjay Dutt is seen smoking during one of the songs.
The user called Sanjay’s criticism ironic, referring to lyrics from the film’s song that mention cigarette smoke.
Responding to the comment, Sanjay said that public messaging and rules concerning smoking were different at the time. “There were no non smoking ads then you genius,” he wrote.
Another social media user argued that Indian society often associates smoking with masculinity and criticised the portrayal of cigarettes in films as a symbol of male identity.
Sanjay’s post has since prompted discussion over the portrayal of smoking in Bollywood promotions and its relationship with anti-smoking messaging shown to cinema audiences.
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