Bollywood should have scenes of smoking going up in smoke

New Delhi: With the self-confessed chain smoker vowing to stamp out the butt, Shahrukh Khan may have donned the role of an ambassador for anti-smoking campaigns. However, his latest avtaar as Don has the Health Ministry fuming.


The Censor Board has given the movie a U/A certificate, which the Health Ministry argues runs contrary to the new 'smoking ban' in movies.


"Don has scenes where the hero is shown smoking. We think it should get an Adult certificate," says Health Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss.


But the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is in mood to oblige. "Whether it is Don or any other movie, there is no such rule that as soon as you see a cigarette, you have to rate it as an 'adult' movie," says Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunshi.



"If we make a movie on Churchill, we will have to show him smoking," he says adding more fire to the debate between creative expression and glamorising smoking.


Don's diwali release may well light up the screens without a fuss. After all, the court is yet to decide whether Bollywood should have scenes of smoking going up in smoke.