Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta has raised questions about why Bollywood continues to associate smoking with a leading man’s image, particularly on posters. On Sunday, the director shared posters of Ranbir Kapoor from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Animal’, Ranveer Singh from Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar’, and Vicky Kaushal from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Love & War’, pointing out that all three actors were depicted smoking in their looks.

Sanjay Gupta questions Bollywood’s smoking posters

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Sanjay shared a collage featuring the three actors, questioning the contradiction between the anti-smoking disclaimers shown in theatres and the smoking imagery used on film posters. He wrote, “What is the point of those unpleasant anti smoking reels we have to endure before and during films when these are the posters of the films?”.

Users bring up Gupta’s own film ‘Kaante’

The post soon sparked a debate in the comments section, with one user pointing to Gupta’s own 2002 film Kaante, referencing a song that mentions smoking. The user wrote, “Suprised that this is coming from the director of the movie Kaante which has a song which says ‘ciggrate ke dhuan ka challa banake, collar ko thodasa upar chada ke’…what an irony.” Gupta hit back directly, noting that the norms around smoking-related messaging were different back then. He wrote, “There were no non smoking ads then you genius.”

Other users react to the debate

The discussion drew several other users who echoed Gupta’s larger point about the portrayal of smoking in films. Drawing a parallel to disclaimers on streaming platforms, one user wrote, “It’s a joke, it’s like watching a show on Netflix and apple and being warned about alcohol consumption.” Another user took issue with how Indian cinema repeatedly links cigarettes with masculinity, commenting, “Because these people think that cigarette is the only thing that shows a man masculine. This is the lack of creativity. All Indian film industries are suffering from ‘masculinity sycophancy’. Bhaad mai gaya content, story aur creativity.” Someone else voiced their agreement, writing, “Couldn’t agree more, dead right.”

CBFC tightens rules on substance depiction

This development comes as regulations around depicting substance use in films are being made stricter. The CBFC has put out a fresh set of guidelines outlining what content is permissible on screen and how sensitive topics must be approached. These rules, notified under the Cinematograph Act by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on September 16, require films featuring narcotics to carry mandatory anti-drug warnings, while continuing to uphold restrictions on violence, sensitive subject matter and anything that could strain India’s diplomatic relations. This move accompanies the Centre’s decision to reconstitute the CBFC, bringing in a new 18-member board.

Mandatory anti-drug warning for films

Among the most significant changes is the requirement for films depicting the consumption, use or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances to carry a mandatory on-screen warning. Such scenes will now need to display the message: “Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs.”

New CBFC board announced

The updated certification rules came alongside the Centre’s announcement of a new CBFC board. The 18-member panel brings together actors Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty, Pallavi Joshi and Prosenjit Chatterjee, filmmaker Priyadarshan and Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej, with Shashi Shekhar Vempati continuing in his role as CBFC chairperson. Other members include filmmaker Neela Madhab Panda, actor Manoj Joshi, singer and former parliamentarian Hans Raj Hans, producer Supriya Yarlagadda, poet Yatindra Mishra, actors Roopali Ganguly and Nishigandha Wad, theatre director Waman Kendre and writer Ramesh Patange.