Days after a poster for his film showing him with a cigarette kicked up a storm, the Tamil Nadu government has directed actor Vijay, the producer and director to withdraw the promotional poster of 'Sarkar'.
The office of the Director of Public Health sent a letter to the trio, directing them to withdraw the poster.
"We have told them to withdraw the promotional poster.The actor posing with a cigarette is a violation of law and we pointed this out. If this continues, legal action will be taken and this has been made clear," a top Public Health Department official told PTI.
Tobacco products must not be used for any promotional purposes as per the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 and its rules, he said.
The July 4 letter 'warning' the actor, director and producer of legal action has already been sent by speed post, the official said.
Similar letters asking several movie makers to not use tobacco products for promotion have been given in the past as well for Tamil movies like "Aruvi" and "Taramani."
After promotional posters of 'Sarkar' were released last month, it was strongly opposed by anti-tobacco NGOs and the Pattali Makkal Katchi.
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss had tweeted "You'll look more stylish without that cigarette. Shame on actor Vijay for promoting smoking in this first look of his next movie."
The PMK has a long history of opposing promoting tobacco products in films or through other mediums.
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