Former Indian cricketer and world cup hero Gautam Gambhir won millions of hearts with his latest statement on celebrities endorsing ‘pan masala’. Gambhir lashed out at legendary cricketers in Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag, and Kapil Dev for endorsing an Indian tobacco brand.
For the unversed, earlier this month, Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag were both criticized on social media for endorsing an Indian tobacco brand.
Gautam Gambhir Slammed Cricketers For Endorsing ‘Pant Masala’
Speaking in his latest interview with News 18 where he was asked about his opinion on Indian cricketers endorsing ‘Pan Masala’, Gambhir summed up his reaction using two words ‘disgusting and disappointing’.
Gambhir stressed that money can’t be that important that one starts endorsing such products given that millions of kids look up to them as role models. He further exemplified his point with a remark on Sachin Tendulkar, revealing that he once rejected an offer worth INR 20 crore for a ‘Pan Masala’ ad. Gambhir said:
“It’s disgusting and disappointing. That is why I say, choose your role models carefully. One gets recognised not by their name, but by the work they do. Crores of kids are watching. Money is not that important that you will end of doing a Pan Masala ad. In 2018, when I had stepped down from Delhi Capitals captaincy, I had given up INR 3 crores. I could have taken it, but I left it because I always believe that I should get what I deserve. Sachin Tendulkar was offered 20-30 crores but said no to these pan masala ads. He had promised his father that he would never engage in such stuff, which is why he is a role model,”
In the same interview, Gambhir slammed the “hero worship” culture in this country, saying that all media is now just “PR agency” of superstar players. He said:
“Our country is not a team-obsessed country but an individual-obsessed country. We consider individuals bigger than the team. In other countries, in England, Australia and New Zealand, the team is bigger than the individual,” Gautam Gambhir told News18.
“All the stakeholders in Indian cricket, from the broadcaster and the media to everyone: all of them have been reduced to a PR agency. This is why we haven’t won an ICC tournament for so long because we are so obsessed with individuals.”
