Pierce Brosnan, who is best known for playing 007 agent James Bond, has stated that he was cheated by Indian pan masala brand Pan Bahar. The actor said that the company, whose advertisement he starred in back in 2016, deliberately withheld information regarding the product’s hazardous nature.
“In a written reply to the Delhi State Tobacco Control Cell, the actor stated that he got cheated by the company as the latter did not disclose the hazardous nature of the product and other terms and conditions of the contract of advertisement,” Additional Director (Health) SK Arora told PTI.
In 2016, soon after he received backlash for starring in Pan Bahar’s advertisement, Brosnan said that his contract had specified an advertisement for a “breath freshener/tooth whitener”. The product’s print advertisements depict Brosnan holding a tin of the pan masala. The television advertisements show him fighting men, flirting with women, and performing stunts, ostensibly powered by Pan Bahar.
In his response to the Delhi government, Brosnan said that his agreement with the company was over, also giving in writing that he would never assist any company with regard to promotion of such products.
India’s Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act, 2003 bans all kinds of direct and indirect advertisements of tobacco products.
Incidentally, the star lost his first wife and daughter to cancer, something which he highlighted when he first was called out for starring in the advertisement.
Feature Image: PierceBrosnan.com
