Bollywood actors Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff have submitted their responses to the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration over the Vimal Elaichi advertisement. The development comes after the regulator sent show cause notices to the two actors along with Shah Rukh Khan over the advertisement. According to a report by CNN News18, responses from Ajay and Tiger have now been received by the FDA, while Shah Rukh Khan’s response is still awaited. Further details about the responses have not been made public yet.
The controversy began in August when Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff were served notices by the Maharashtra FDA over their association with the Vimal Elaichi advertisement. The regulator raised questions about whether the advertisement could be considered surrogate advertising for Vimal Pan Masala. Pan masala is banned in Maharashtra under the prohibition order issued by the state authorities.
The FDA reportedly argued that the advertisement creates an indirect connection with Vimal Pan Masala. Although the advertisement promotes elaichi, the regulator said that the Vimal brand is strongly associated with pan masala. Because of this, the FDA questioned whether promoting another Vimal product could indirectly promote the pan masala brand as well.
The notice issued by the FDA stated, “Upon examination of the said advertisement, it prima facie appears that the advertisement promotes the Vimal brand, which is mainly associated with Pan Masala, a product prohibited for manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution, and sale in the State of Maharashtra for a period of one year, with effect from the date specified in the Prohibition Order dated the 13th July, 2026, issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety, Maharashtra State, under Section 30(2)(a) of the FSS Act, 2006.”
The three actors received the notices at different locations. Ajay Devgn was served the notice at his residence in Juhu, while Shah Rukh Khan received his notice at Mannat in Bandra. Tiger Shroff was served the notice through his production company, Tiger Shroff Productions LLP.
The FDA action led to considerable discussion, especially because the advertisement features some of Bollywood’s biggest stars. However, none of the three actors had publicly commented on the controversy when the notices were first issued.
With Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff now submitting their responses, attention has shifted to Shah Rukh Khan. The FDA is yet to receive his response, according to the latest report. It remains to be seen what action the regulator takes after receiving all the responses and reviewing the explanations submitted by the actors.
