Bollywood celebrities who turned down commercials on moral grounds

New Delhi: Aside from acting in movies, promoting a product is a booming industry for many celebrities. While these celebrities get big bucks for their endorsements, there have been times when they have turned down offers to represent a company because they believe in ethics over money.

1. Amitabh Bachchan: The megastar has been associated with Pepsi for eight years. However, he stopped promoting the soft drink company after a young girl asked him why he was promoting a drink her teacher had described as poison at a school event. During an interactive seminar on celebrity endorsements at IIM-A, he shared the entire experience. Eveready had also reached out to the actor to endorse a flashlight, which was portrayed as a lucrative dowry in a television commercial. While the actor may not have had a problem with the merchandise, the marketing was problematic, which is why he declined.

2. Sushant Singh Rajput: The late actor, known for his down-to-earth public persona and core values, turned down a $15 billion business deal promoting fairness creams. The three-year deal reportedly required the actor to direct six commercials. He immediately declined, believing he is responsible for the items he lends his face to because so many people look up to him.

3. John Abraham: The actor seems to be picky about the brands he’s associated with. A well-known cigarette company reportedly asked the actor for a recommendation and even offered him a significant sum of money. He, however, declined the offer.

4. Anushka Sharma: While it’s typical for celebrities to endorse a variety of beauty products like fairness creams, the well-known actress made it clear that she would never endorse a fairness cream brand.

5. Swara Bhaskar: The actress, known for her strong beliefs and unusual film choices, turned down an offer to sell a skin lightening lotion. The actor has stated that he will not support anything that discriminates against people based on the color of their skin.

6. Ranbir Kapoor: In 2011, the actor refused to endorse a skin-lightening brand. Despite the fact that he was reportedly given 9 crores for the campaign, he declined.