MUMBAI: In response to protests by the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication for showing Saif Ali Khan sporting a cigar in his mouth on the poster for his upcoming film Go Goa Gone, the actor has shot a special video to spread awareness about ills of tobacco.
The video will play in the beginning of the movie where he plays the role of a cigar smoking Russian mafia lord Boris who turns into a zombie killer.
Khan said, "I think smoking is a form of drug abuse. I do not believe in censorship, as in blanket banning. An appropriate age certificate must be set and then enforced. That is what the censor board is for. However, I understand with this freedom comes a social responsibility and I would like to warn the youth that smoking is a very dangerous habit."
Earlier, health ministry had issued an order banning smoking scenes on screen, demanding that cigarette products be blurred or edited and such scenes be accompanied by a disclaimer.
Speaking on the sidelines, producer and Khan‘s partner Dinesh Vijan said that initially Khan was reluctant to play a smoker onscreen.
The film also stars actors Kunal Khemu, Vir Das, Anand Tiwary and Puja Gupta.
The film, directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, will release on 10 May.
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