Smokers cornered

doweshowbellyad=0; Shah Rukh Khan (TOI Photo) More picsBig B did it in reel life, SRK for real, but celebs aren’t taking very kindly to smoking in public.
Although there is no legislation in place here in India that bans smoking in public places, in keeping with the worldwide crackdown on public smoking, it looks like we’re ready to join the bandwagon sooner than we might think!
This comes in light of the recent incident wherein Shah Rukh Khan himself came under the scanner for lighting up in public at a cricket match.
NOTE (National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication), an anti-tobacco NGO, slapped SRK with a legal notice under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (prohibition of advertisements and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act, 2003.
The same NGO had earlier come down heavily on Amitabh Bachchan when the Big B was depicted in a poster of one of his films smoking a cigar.
So how constitutional is this move? Should smoking be banned in public places? Are we as a nation turning into a bunch of overreacting alarmists? We asked a few celebrities these questions and here’s what they came up with:
Nauheed Cyrusi
Actress
A smoking ban in a public place like a park, a road or anywhere open is fine. But maybe in a club, where not all people smoke, there should either be a smoking room or smokers should be asked to go outside to smoke.
Ashmit Patel
Actor
Smoking in public places should be banned. Everyone has the right to breathe good clean air, without some insensitive person blowing smoke in your face!
Sophie Choudry
Actress
Yes, yes, yes! Smoking in public should be banned. I have no desire to die early because of someone’s disgusting habit. I am currently in Hong Kong where it is banned in restaurants, while in London it is banned everywhere. It is so great to go clubbing and not stink of smoke afterwards.
Arjun Khanna
Designer
Yes, for sure, I fully support the move!
Chetan Hansraj
TV Actor
In a way, we celebs do have a social responsibility not to smoke in public. Fans normally follow the trends and styles of their favourite stars. In case of smoking, it’s better if stars could avoid doing it especially in front of impressionable youngsters.
Shahwar Ali
Model
If there is a ban on smoking, it should be uniform. Since there isn’t a ban, rules can’t be enforced strongly. Yes, but celebs need to think twice before smoking in public, because they have a social responsibility and people do tend to follow their favourite star’s habits.
Manoj Bajpai
Actor
Of course, there is a sense of responsibility that everyone must practice in public. If there are impressionable youngsters around, even a common person must practice civic sense, not just celebrities.
Mir Ranjan Negi
Hockey great
We all have a duty of conduct in society. The youth need to be motivated to do the right and good things in life. Practicing unhealthy habits in front of them is incorrect.