LAHORE (News Desk) – Responding to recent Mobilink advertisement in leading Urdu dailies of Pakistan that sparked controversy on social media, Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri has said “I was unaware that they would consider using this visual for a mainstream newspaper ad – an Urdu daily as it was never meant to be.”
According to Indian website which publishes updates about Indian film industry, Fakhri went on to say that as a model or celebrity she has always believed in using her persona to help further a brand’s communication while adding that “but never to have it used where I end up being objectified for my looks.”
The 36-year-old model turned actress, who made debut in Bollywood with Rockstar, further said that “Culturally too, my team and I are aware and respectful of what visuals work for what mediums, markets and audiences and hence given the brand’s firm penetration in the Pakistan market, we left it up to their expertise to use the images appropriately.”
Commenting about her relationship with Mobilink she said that I have been with Mobilink as their brand ambassador for the last 3 years and there has never been an issue like this.
She also tweeted something linked to the newspaper advertisement.
Interesting https://t.co/ueBujt5p2N
— Nargis (@NargisFakhri) December 22, 2015
Made it all the way back home ? that’s interesting … https://t.co/QJqllYu0iR
— Nargis (@NargisFakhri) December 22, 2015
The advertisement showed Nargis Fakhri lying down on her belly wearing maroon colored skin tight dress showcasing a new mobile series of Pakistan’s largest cellular network Mobilink.
Many, including journalists, took to Twitter to condemn the ‘obscenity’ of the seemingly innocent ad that simply shows a woman lying down with a phone in her hand.