January 8th 2009
PANAJI: A Mumbai-based public health institute has lauded Aamir Khan Production Pvt Ltd for the actor's anti-smoking scene in the latest
blockbuster, 'Ghajini'.
Healis Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health has sent a letter of appreciation to Aamir Khan Productions Pvt Ltd applauding him for the scene in his latest blockbuster hit 'Ghajini'.
The latest Aamir Khan flick has shown a gang of hooligans smoking in a mall which is objected to by a character.
"The scene highlights the team's sensitivity in correctly portraying public smoking as an unlawful activity, especially since most producers and directors tend to glamourise the act of smoking and some of them defend it as creative freedom," the institute director Dr P C Gupta said.
"When a celebrity smokes publicly or in a movie as a character, he or she not only violates the law but also influences the fans to start consuming tobacco. According to a research, 52 per cent children have their first puff after watching a celebrity light up a cigarette," he said.
"We appreciate and thank Murugadoss, the director of 'Ghajini', and Aamir Khan for highlighting such an important fact even though we certainly do not favour any violence against smokers," Gupta said.
