Actor Thalapathy Vijay, currently preparing for the highly-anticipated release of his film 'Leo,' has landed in a legal soup.
The first song from the movie, titled 'Naa Ready,' was unveiled on Vijay's birthday, June 22. While the song has already become a chartbuster, it has also attracted legal trouble for the actor and the team behind 'Leo.'
A police complaint has been lodged against Vijay and the film's makers, accusing them of featuring smoking and alcohol consumption in the song.
According to reports, an activist named Selvam from Korukkupet, Chennai, filed the complaint, alleging that Vijay and the makers of 'Leo' were glorifying drug use and promoting rowdy behaviour in 'Naa Ready.'
The activist urged the court to take action against the superstar and the production team under the Narcotics Control Act. The complaint further asserts that the song, which has gained widespread popularity, encourages drug consumption among the youth.
As of now, neither the actor nor the filmmakers have issued an official statement regarding the controversy.
This isn't the first time Vijay has faced criticism for depicting smoking and tobacco usage in his films. Just a few days ago, Anbumani Ramadoss, the president of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) party and a Member of Parliament, advised Vijay to refrain from endorsing smoking, as children and youth watch his films.
In 2007, the Telugu film industry faced a major controversy over actors smoking on screen. Vijay had then pledged to cooperate with the government's anti-smoking initiatives by avoiding smoking scenes in his films.
Reminding the actor of his promise, Anbumani has now said that Vijay should be mindful of the fact that his films inspire and impact the youth. Anbumani believes that as a socially responsible figure, Vijay must help "protect the public" from smoking.
Meanwhile, Vijay's fans have regarded this row as free promotion for the movie. 'Leo' is scheduled for release during the occasion of Dussehra later this year.