‘Is selling pan masala necessary?’ YouTuber Dhruv Rathee questions Shah Rukh Khan’s endorsement choices

New Delhi: Indian YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has questioned Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan over his endorsement of pan masala brands, asking whether the actor really needs to promote such harmful products given his enormous wealth.

Taking to his X, Rathee shared a video titled “My question to Shah Rukh Khan”, which quickly went viral and sparked widespread debate online. The video follows reports from the Hurun India Rich List 2025 that valued Khan’s net worth at $1.4 billion (approximately Rs 12,400 crore), officially making him a billionaire, richer than many top Hollywood stars such as Tom Cruise and Dwayne Johnson.

In the video, Rathee questioned the need for the actor to endorse a pan masala brand, saying that even after living a lavish lifestyle, Khan would still only spend a fraction of his total fortune. He asked why a celebrity of Khan’s stature would continue to promote products that are widely regarded as harmful, adding that if India’s top actor stopped endorsing such items, it could have a positive social impact.

“The real question is: Do you really need that extra Rs 100–200 crore? Look within yourself and ask honestly — what will you even do with so much wealth? Now think from another angle — if the country’s top actor stopped endorsing such harmful products, what kind of impact could that have on the nation?” Rathee said, urging his viewers to share the video so that it reaches the superstar himself.

The video drew a flurry of online reactions. One user commented, “Shah Rukh Khan once said he would never stop earning money because he has seen days of poverty that he doesn’t want his children to experience, no matter what he has to do.” Another remarked, “The question should be to the government — why isn’t pan masala and gutkha banned in this country? Just because the government earns high tax revenue from it?”

Meanwhile, a fan shared an old interview clip of Shah Rukh Khan with CNN-IBN, where the actor had responded to criticism over his endorsement of Thums Up. When asked about the then Health Minister’s statement urging celebrities not to advertise unhealthy products, Khan said, “I would appeal to any authority like that — ban it. Don’t let it sell in our country. If smoking is bad, stop the production of cigarettes. If you think soft drinks are bad, don’t allow them to be made. My logic is — you’re not stopping them because they bring in revenue. You’re not stopping certain products because they’re revenue sources for the government. Then don’t stop my revenue. I’m an actor. I’m supposed to do a job and earn from it. And very clearly, if you think something is wrong, stop it. What’s the problem?”

The debate over celebrity endorsements of tobacco and pan masala products has reignited following Rathee’s video, with many calling for stricter regulations and ethical responsibility in brand promotions.