Professional Report - Smoke Free Movies

Keeping in view you long association with movies have you noticed any trends vis-à-vis smoking in the film
industry? Are more people smoking these days off screen are more women into it?
Rather I feel people are very conscious about their health now. Even in our film industry there are a lot of
heroes—Aamir Khan is one of them- who do not smoke. These people are very health conscious. They also
keep telling others not to smoke. There are a lot of people who are giving up smoking now or at least trying
their best to give up smoking. People are more careful about their health now than in those earlier days.
Thank you
Malaika Arora Khan
Do you think the youth get influenced by cinema, specifically when they see their heroes smoking or drinking?
I definitely think so. To a large extent people on screen definitely influence our Indian audiences. I know a lot of
kids who have been influenced. Its very strange that a question like this has come up because I have come
across many kids who have told me that they saw so and so smoking on screen and they thought it was cool.
And they probably started off smoking at a young age too! Yes, smoking on screen does have a large effect on
our kid’s mind. But I don’t completely blame our stars and believe all this is only due to the people on screen. A
lot of times it has got to do with the script or millions of other reasons. But as icons they can, rather they should,
take a step to smoking on screen. World over people are taking so many steps to stop smoking. I believe our
icons should also do something about it.
Why do icons smoke? Is it because they feel they are comfortable with a cigarette when a shot is being taken
or because it is part of the script?
That’s difficult to say. Like I said we cannot entirely blame them for what they do on screen. But then a lot of our
actors do smoke otherwise too. So I guess it comes very naturally to them. Sometimes it does have to do with
the script, with their character or adding that extra style or whatever it may be. But like I said I think they can
make a conscious effort and say I will not do this. It could be one of the ways by which youngsters can be
influenced positively by what happens!
In your career have you ever come across any body who has refused to smoke when a director or script has
demanded it?
Not directly where I knew somebody. But where I am concerned, I have said no especially when I was
modeling and did not want to endorse cigarettes. I have done that. There were a couple of ads that came up
and I said, no don’t feel comfortable doing it because it is something I don’t feel right about. So I have done it
but I cant say that I have come across somebody who has said no.
Are you aware of any product placements involving tobacco or cigarette in the film industry?
Well product placements have been happening in India too: cold drinks, car or scooters. But as far something
related to cigarette nothing comes to my mind. But if it had to happen, it would have probably have by now. I
was recently reading about James Bond—Bond has always had this No Smoking policy. But I believe in the
latest Bond film they have shown him smoking and there was a huge hue and cry. I think it is good that people
are taking a stand like that.
What about Kaante, the new release? Everybody their seems to be blowing smoke rings, and kids are finding
the entire look-- leather jackets and smoking-- cool?
Well I am in the film. I must say that seeing your favourite heroes dangling a cigarette from their lips and
saying those cool dialogues does have an effect on our youngsters. Probably out of every ten youngsters six at
least would tell themselves ‘Wow, that’s really cool and I must try it out!’ There may be a dozen other reasons
why people are smoking and it may not be fair to blame everything to be caused by solely what’s happening on
screen. But even if there is that one per cent of a chance that the youth are smoking because of what’s
happening on the screen , then I think we should put this concern across to the film fraternity. The film fraternity
is not stupid and I am sure they will heed to this concern.
173