Saif condemns the use of tobacco

Actor Saif Ali Khan is known to play diverse roles, not limiting himself to one genre or type. In Go Goa Gone he plays the role of a Russian mafia lord, Boris.

Published: Tuesday,Apr 02, 2013 14:30 PM GMT-06:00

Nadia M.

Actor Saif Ali Khan is known to play diverse roles, not limiting himself to one genre or type. In Go Goa Gone he plays the role of a Russian mafia lord, Boris. When Saif got to know that Boris smokes a cigar in the film, he insisted that he will shoot a video message addressing the youth about the harm caused by tobacco. This video is going to play before the film begins in, which he has said that tobacco use of any sort is injurious to health. Off-screen, the actor doesn't smoke.

Saif says, "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. It may seem cool now but there is nothing cool about lung or heart disease. I quit smoking after almost suffering a heart attack five years ago. Purely bought on by my smoking... clearly It is not worth it!"

"Saif plays a Russian Mafia Lord in Go Goa Gone and because of the demand of the character he smokes a cigar in the film. Off screen, Saif doesn't smoke and condemns the use of tobacco. In fact, on his insistence we had shot a personalised anti-tobacco video a while back, where he says that the use of Tobacco in any form is injurious to health. The video will play before the film begins. This was not meant to disrespect the law or promote the use of tobacco, keeping the sensitivity and the sensibility of the Law in mind, we retract our creative," says producer Dinesh Vijan.

Saif and Dinesh are producing this film under their banner Illuminati Films along with Sunil Lulla of Eros International. The zombie comedy, directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, is all set to release on May 10th, 2013. The film also stars actors Kunal Khemu, Vir Das, Anand Tiwary and Puja Gupta in key roles.