EXCLUSIVE: Soundarya Sharma has NO REGRETS about doing pan masala ad with Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn & Shah Rukh Khan, says, “I want to make it here in the industry”

Soundarya Sharma is a well-known name in the entertainment world thanks to her performance in the 2017 romantic drama Ranchi Diaries and her participation in Bigg Boss 16. The actress recently sat down for an in-depth and exclusive interview with Bollywood Bubble where she spoke up about several issues such as the existence of a casting couch in Bollywood, women being unsafe, social media, trolling and more.

During the exclusive chat, Soundarya Sharma also opened up about her pan masala ad with Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar. The actress spoke at length about the trolling the actors – especially Akshay faced and whether the moral policing is just.

Soundarya Sharma on doing pan masala ad with SRK, Ajay and Akshay

Talking about her gutka ad with Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn, and whether all the actors were present together for the shoot, Soundarya Sharma said, “Sab log the but sab ka dates aage-peeche tha.” She continued, “I haven’t shot with Akshay Kumar in that ad. Teeno ka mujhe nahi bata how they have worked, it’s wrong on my part also to talk about that. But that’s how they shoot.” Talking about her balcony scene, and which stars were present on set for it, the actress said, “Ajay sir toh the. Aur baki, meine nahi kiya unke saath shoot.”

During the same conversation, Soundarya also opened up about the severe backlash and trolling Akshay Kumar received for the pan-masala ad. Talking about whether actors have a responsibility towards the audience and if she regrets being part of the gutka ad, she said, “No. I don’t regret (it).” She continued, “Because I think my choices as an actor are very different from the choices as a dentist or as a (normal) person. You tell me, I want to make it here in the industry – I’m saying this truthfully.”

Soundarya on actors being trolled for gutka ads

Soundarya further stated, “Agar kissi ko aisa platform ya opportunity milegi toh aap manna kar donge? Koi nahi karega. Yeh (troll karna) hypocrisy wali baath ho jayegi agar mein bolu… We look up to them, we have all grown up watching them. We are live fan girls and fan boys (of theirs). They are like the superstars of our country. Why would I say no to something where I can be a part of and share the screen with the biggest mega stars of the country? I have manifested all of that. I have been praying and working hard to share even a glimpse or space where I can be on the same pedestal and share a bit of my talent. And yes I got that opportunity.”

Soundarya Sharma continued, “Everyone is saying pan masala, gutka… agar aap itna moral policing kar rahe hai toh unn logo ko rokhiye na joh kha rahe hai. Thali ek haat se nahi bajhti. Logo ko pata hai unko life mein kya karna hai. So how only actors are responsible? I agree ki public figure hai, woh kya message dete hai usse logo ke upar bahut prabhav padta hai – that’s why they say tha ki aap bahut influential ho. Par insaan ki matt bhi hoti hai. Aap sab kuch joh artist karte hai woh nahi karte hai apni life mein? Toh yeh toh bada alibi ho gaya hai actors ko blame karne ka. Audience ko malum hai – they are very smart.”

She continued in Hindi, ” People who consume pan masalas and gutka know the side effects of the products. They pay money for it. No one holds them at gunpoint and makes them consume the product. Isme actors bichare (ke baare mein) kya bolu?”

Watch Soundarya Sharma’s full interview here:

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Soundarya Sharma ADMITS to the existence of casting couch in Bollywood; says, “Others may have experienced something like it”