Image shared by Akshay Kumar (Courtesy: akshaykumar)

Mumbai:

Terming a report claiming he had returned because the ambassador of a paan masala model “fake news”, famous person Akshay Kumar says he had distanced himself from the product after he publicly withdrew his affiliation from the endorsement final yr. An on-line portal on Monday had shared an article on X with the caption: “#AkshayKumar returns as the ambassador of Vimal Pan Masala; features along with #AjayDevgn and #ShahRukhKhan in the new commercial”.

Akshay, who in April 2022 had introduced his choice to chop ties with the model, stated the advertisements had been shot again in 2021.

“‘Returns’ as ambassador? Here’s some fact check for you Bollywood Hungama, if by chance you are interested in things other than fake news. These ads were shot on 13th October, 2021.

“I’ve not had something to do with the model ever since I publicly introduced the discontinuation of the endorsement. They can legally run the already shot advertisements until the tip of subsequent month. Chill and do some actual information,” the 56-year-old wrote on X in response to the report.

After the brand’s latest ad commercial was broadcast on Sunday evening, a section of social media users called out Akshay for being a “hypocrite”. Others supported him saying the ad may have been shot before he backed out as the brand ambassador.

The portal later updated its story with the actor’s response.

Last year, Akshay had come under fire for endorsing the brand, with social media users digging up an old video where he had vouched to never promote tobacco.

Following backlash, the actor issued a statement and apologised to fans for featuring in the advertising campaign. The brand might continue airing the ads till the “authorized length of the contract that’s binding upon me”, he had additional stated.