MUMBAI (Web Desk) – While Bollywood actors have had no issues in endorsing fairness cream brands, Anushka Sharma is an actress who would like to make a clear exception. “I would not endorse products that propagate racist and sexiest (beliefs)….and propagate social taboo. I don’t want to endorse products that propagate fair skin and all. I will not propagate anything that says this is right or wrong,” Anushka revealed in a press event, Indiatimes reported.
However, Anushka is not the only actor in Bollywood who has declined a brand offer. Take a look at seven others.
Randeep Hooda had clearly mentioned in the media that, “It’s a colonial hangover to be fair. India, as a country, has an obsession with fairness, whereas the entire world is lying under the sun and getting a tan. I think men should be tall, dark and handsome and not tall, fair and handsome.”
There was buzz recently that Kangana Ranaut was offered a whopping Rs 2 crore deal for endorsing a fairness cream. Kangana did not say yes to the offer. Instead she spoke to the media and said “Ever since I was a kid, I have never understood the concept of fairness. Especially, in such a case, as a celebrity, what kind of an example would I be setting for younger people? I have no regrets about turning this offer down. As a public figure, I have responsibilities.”
Ranbir Kapoor has declined the offer to endorse a fairness cream and he stated that such products do nothing but deepen racist stereotypes, reiterating that such products only make racist stereotypes stronger than ever in the Indian mindset.
Bollywood’s Mr. Perfectionist turned down a luxury car endorsement which could have easily fetched him a ‘few crores’. According to a media source, “Aamir only wants to work on ads that are socially relevant. He is rumoured to have cancelled ad deals amounting to a few crores. He did not sign up for it as it didn’t come under the umbrella of social issues.”
Actor Amitabh Bachchan backed out and stopped endorsing a cola brand after he revealed his confrontation with a school-girl who was puzzled as to why a megastar like him promoted the soft drink brand her teacher called ‘poison’. Big B also requested other celebrities to go through proper due diligence before endorsing brands. Bachchan was on a declining spree after that as he turned down another offer from a TV brand because the content was related to dowry.
Brands have approached John time and again for endorsements but he has been honest in choosing the brands. He has clearly stated that he will never endorse any tobacco or alcohol-related products.
Actor Akshay Kumar turned down an offer from a paan masala brand even when the offer had some ‘crores’ attached to it. Akshay Kumar is a teetotaler in real life but his gesture and thoughtfulness of not endorsing anything for money is definitely commendable.
These actors turned down brand endorsements when it went against their principles.
