When actor Saif Ali Khan, who plays the role of a Russian mafia lord ‘Boris’ in upcoming zom-com Go Goa Gone, got to know that Boris smokes a cigar in the film, he insisted that he will shoot a video message addressing the youth about the harm caused by tobacco. This video will be played before the film starts. Off-screen, the actor doesn’t smoke!
The zombie comedy, directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, is all set to release on May 10th, 2013. The film also stars actors Kunal Khemu, Vir Das, Anand Tiwary and Puja Gupta in key roles.
Saif says, “I think smoking is a form of drug abuse. I do not believe in censorship, as in blanket banning. An appropriate age certificate must be set and then enforced. That is what the censor board is for. However I understand with this freedom comes a social responsibility and I would like to warn the youth that smoking is a very dangerous habit. It may seem cool now but there is nothing cool about lung or heart disease. I quit smoking after almost suffering a heart attack five years ago. Purely bought on by my smoking… clearly It is not worth it!”
Producer Dinesh Vijan said, “Saif plays a Russian Mafia Lord in Go Goa Gone and because of the demand of the character he smokes a cigar in the film. Off screen, Saif doesn’t smoke and condemns the use of tobacco. In fact, on his insistence we had shot a personalised anti-tobacco video a while back, where he says that the use of Tobacco in any form is injurious to health. The video will play before the film begins. This was not meant to disrespect the law or promote the use of tobacco, keeping the sensitivity and the sensibility of the Law in mind, we retract our creative.”
Saif and Dinesh are producing this film under their banner Illuminati Films along with Sunil Lulla of Eros International.