YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has questioned actor Shah Rukh Khan over his decision to promote a paan masala brand despite being among the wealthiest actors in the world. However, this is not the first time that the actor has been embroiled in an advertisement controversy. Many years ago, Shah Rukh was also questioned over his choice to advertise soft drinks that are harmful for children. SRK’s response back then has now resurfaced amid Rathee’s remarks.
Shah Rukh Khan said in the resurfaced interview, “I would appeal to any authority like that (Health Minister at the time), ban it. Don’t let it sell in our country. If smoking is bad, don’t let the production of cigarettes go on in this country. If you think cold drinks are bad, do not let them…If it’s poisoning our people, do not let it be made."
The superstar explained, “See, my logic is, you are not stopping it because it gives you revenue. Let’s be honest about it. You’re not stopping certain products, if you think they’re harmful, but they are revenue to the government. Don’t stop my revenue. I’m an actor. I’m supposed to do a job and get revenue from it. Very clearly, if you think something is wrong, stop it. There’s no problem, just stop making it."
This clip has gone viral after Dhruv Rathee’s attack on SRK. Rathee shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) where he discussed the Jawan actor’s reported wealth, his spending habits, and the ethics of celebrity endorsements. Rathee highlighted reports estimating Shah Rukh Khan’s net worth at around $1.4 billion (approximately Rs 12,400 crore), making him one of the richest actors globally.
He said, “Shah Rukh Khan ab ek billionaire ban chuke hai. Sahi suna aapne! News reports ke anusar, unki net worth $1.4 billion pohach chuki hai. Rupiyo mein kaha jaaye toh kareeb Rs. 12,400 crore hota hai. Jaante ho kitna paisa hai yeh? Isko imagine kar pana bhi mushkil hai."
Towards the end of the video, Rathee directly questioned Shah Rukh Khan’s decision to endorse a paan masala brand. He asked, “Mera Shah Rukh Khan se sawaal yeh hai, kya itne paise kaafi nahi hai kya? Agar kaafi hai toh kya majburi padi ke paan masala jaisi haani kaarak chiz ko aap abhi bhi promote kar rahe ho?"
The YouTuber referred to reports about SRK’s endorsement fee for the brand back in 2014 and suggested that the amount would likely have increased significantly since then. Rathee urged the actor to reflect on the impact of his choices, saying, “Sawaal yeh hai ke kya aapko yeh extra Rs. 100-200 crore ki sahi mein zarurat bhi hai? Apni andar jhaak kar honestly yeh sawaal pucho. Kya kijiyega itni dhan raashi ka? Aur dusri taraf sochkar dekho, desh ka top actor agar yeh haani kaarak chize promote karna bandh kar dega, toh kya impact padega iska desh par?"
Shah Rukh Khan has yet to respond to Rathee’s video, but his fans have taken to the comments section to defend him. While they agreed that endorsing a paan masala brand isn’t the best choice, they defended the actor’s right to use his money and influence however he wants.
