NEW DELHI – Irish actor and and film producer Pierce Brosnan has been issued a show-cause notice from the Indian government for appearing in a controversial advertisement of an Indian pan masala brand.
The former James Bond star has been asked to clarify his position within 10 days.
If the actor does not respond to the notice by the Delhi government, the 64-year-old actor could face a fine of Rs 5,000 or two years in prison or both.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob1RBsKnLP0
“We have issued the notice to Pierce Brosnan through the company, and also reached out to him via social media platforms,” officials from Delhi’s health department told the Indian Express.
“It may be noted that Mr Pierce Brosnan who is promoting the brand in media, TV channel, vendors and others if any have also become a party to this violation and are likely to be punished as per COTPA 2003,” read the notice.
Areca nut (supari) in pan masala has the cancer-causing agent which has been scientifically proven and Brosnan, an actor who is a role model for lakhs of people especially youngsters, should not indulge in the promotion of such hazardous products, it read.
Brosnan had earlier said his contract stated that he was to advertise a ‘breath freshener/ tooth whitener’ and that he was shocked by the deceptive use of his image in the pan masala brand’s advertisement.
Both pan masala and gutka have been linked to cancer, with many Indian states banning their sale and running campaigns to discourage people from buying them.
