In an exclusive Lehren Retro conversation with Bharathi S Pradhan, Shatrughan Sinha recollects the moment he advised Bollywood's romantic star Shah Rukh Khan to give up smoking. In addition to highlighting the commitment he made to stop smoking cigarettes with his contemporary, Amitabh Bachchan, the actor-turned-politician advocates for aggressively promoting anti-tobacco efforts. The Veteran Star also gives his candid reaction on Thalaiva Rajinikanth getting inspired by the latters on-screen cigarette flipping style in movies.
Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00You know, recently Shah Rukh Khan said that he has given up smoking, so what do you feel
00:18about that?
00:19You used to be very famous for your smoke rings, we used to come and take your photo.
00:26Yes, but I have been very famous for anti-tobacco campaign for a long time.
00:33When I was the health minister, you know that we did a lot of work, one of them was our anti-tobacco
00:41campaign.
00:42And this Gutka, Zarda and Chewing Tobacco, our struggle and movement was going on against
00:51them.
00:52The world knows that.
00:53I even told your friend Shah Rukh Khan many times to quit smoking, because I did it affectionately.
01:08One day, Shah Rukh Khan was dancing with me on the stage and me and my wife Poonam were
01:13sitting in front of him.
01:14Suddenly, Shah Rukh Khan looked at me and said, sorry sir.
01:18He was panting.
01:19He was panting.
01:20He said, sorry sir, I think age is catching up with me.
01:24I said, no, not age, Shah Rukh, it's your smoking.
01:28You said it.
01:29I said it affectionately.
01:30It's your smoking.
01:32There are many people.
01:33I still say, and through this program of yours, that there is still time.
01:40The first thing you should have done or the best time would have been when you don't
01:47start tobacco, which has smoking and chewing tobacco.
01:52But the second best time for you is right now.
01:59Try to quit it.
02:00I used to smoke myself.
02:01You said.
02:02Yes.
02:03So, I was celebrating Anti-Tobacco Day all over the world.
02:07I think 1st of March, 1979.
02:10Yes, it will be 1979.
02:121st of March and 1st of April.
02:16I said, the world is spending so much dollars.
02:20They are spending lakhs of crores of dollars.
02:23And what am I doing?
02:25So, I should quit smoking.
02:27And I did it without any option.
02:30Without any chewing tobacco.
02:36Nothing like that.
02:39With determination.
02:41With strong will.
02:43And today I am doing an anti-tobacco campaign.
02:46And today I live in an anti-tobacco free atmosphere.
02:51And I try to keep people.
02:54So, I still praise those people who started and quit.
03:03Like our friend Amitabh Bachchan.
03:06We decided to quit together.
03:09He quit.
03:10And we couldn't quit at that time.
03:12People said it was good.
03:14He used to smoke well.
03:16Amitabh Bachchan.
03:17Shashi Kapoor used to smoke.
03:18He also quit.
03:19There are many such people.
03:21Abhiranbir Kapoor.
03:23When he saw his little daughter.
03:25He said, it's not good for her.
03:27It's not good for her daughter.
03:29So, I will quit what can harm her daughter.
03:33And he gave up.
03:34It's a very good thing.
03:36Quit it with any excuse.
03:37Get out of it.
03:39Otherwise,
03:41Do you know?
03:43Many doctors have been quitting for 25 years.
03:46Many people believe that even after 25 years.
03:50They put a person in the category of a smoker.
03:52Although he quit 25 years ago.
03:54Damage.
03:56So, we should stop it now.
03:58And I tell all my friends.
04:03When you say in the plane that tobacco is not allowed.
04:09It's a good thing.
04:10It shouldn't be.
04:12Many people started in the middle.
04:14In the flight from here to America.
04:16In the foreign flights.
04:18They started to consume tobacco.
04:20They started to consume tobacco.
04:22They used to do like this.
04:24When you get down from the plane.
04:26In the first class or business class.
04:28Even in the economy class.
04:30There are many pouches.
04:32They are called pouches.
04:34There are many pouches lying there.
04:36They take cannabis, tobacco, etc.
04:38This should not happen.
04:40It's wrong.
04:42And if Shahrukh Khan has left.
04:44I will consider it very commendable.
04:46Very commendable.
04:48And for his fans.
04:50Especially.
04:52Very commendable.
04:54Do you agree that celebrities should set an example?
04:56Why not?
04:58Absolutely.
05:00Do you agree?
05:02Absolutely.
05:04Because you also started.
05:06Because you saw Raj Kapoor smoking.
05:08Oh yes.
05:10Absolutely.
05:12And I think.
05:14Rajinikanth.
05:16Rajinikanth.
05:18Great actor.
05:20Many people said.
05:22To start smoking.
05:24Or.
05:26To increase the habit of smoking.
05:28Or to change the style.
05:30It can be very harmful for me.
05:32I used to feel guilty for that too.
05:34Right.
05:36And Rajinikanth.
05:38Was very inspired by you.
05:40Because the stylized acting.
05:42You were famous for that.
05:44He also started.
05:46Doing the same thing.
05:48Blowing the smoking rings.
05:50And hitting the clock.
05:52He did all that.
05:54But.
05:56Do you think.
05:58He did not follow you into politics?
06:00Why should he follow?
06:02Look.
06:04Is it necessary for everyone to do what I do?
06:06What is your capacity?
06:08What are your capabilities?
06:10What is your passion?
06:12What is your hobby?
06:14You are such an old friend of mine.
06:16You also did not come into politics.
06:18So I will not say that.
06:20I am upset with you.
06:22Why?
06:24And you write so well.
06:26Your drafting is good.
06:28Your English is very good.
06:30You have good control and command.
06:32So I did not start writing.
06:34Maybe the way I speak.
06:36Many people say.
06:38Maybe the way I speak.
06:40Many people may not be able to speak.
06:42This is not his weakness.
06:44He should speak like that.
06:46So you are not disappointed that Rajinikanth did not come into politics?
06:48No.
06:50But I felt that.
06:52Because you used to say that he should come.
06:54No.
06:56I still have to say that.
06:58A good man.
07:00A good person.
07:02Whoever feels for society.
07:04Knowing that.
07:06You will have to do that.
07:08But it will be very tough for you.
07:10But I feel that.
07:12Like we heard in the court.
07:14A good person.
07:16A good person is not.
07:18Entering into politics.
07:20Then he should be ready to be governed by the bad people.
07:22A good person.
07:24Not entering into politics.
07:26He should be ready to be governed by the bad people.
07:28If good people do not come into politics.
07:30Then you have to.
07:32To live in the rule of bad people.
07:34To live in the rule of bad people.
07:36To die in the rule of bad people.
07:38He should be ready.
07:40These are the things.
07:42Like Prakash Narayan.
07:44I was influenced by him.
07:46I have been an MP for 6 years.
07:48I am not joking.
07:50Continuously.
07:52Despite that.
07:542 times in India.
07:56The film industry in India.
07:58The record was broken.
08:00He became the cabinet minister.
08:02He was the first actor.
08:04First actor.
08:06First film personality.
08:08Full fledged cabinet minister.
08:10Cabinet minister of health.
08:12And family welfare.
08:14And cabinet minister of shipping.
08:16Despite that.
08:18You may or may not agree with me.
08:20But you will agree.
08:22That you have never.
08:24In any situation.
08:26At any time.
08:28You have not heard.
08:30Any allegation.
08:32You have never heard.
08:34We are fortunate.
08:36We are lucky.
08:38It feels good.
08:40We believe.
08:42Even now.
08:44There is a lot of money politics.
08:46A lot of things are not happening.
08:48A lot of expenses are not happening.
08:50A lot of schemes are not happening.
08:52A lot is happening.
08:54You have to find a way.
08:56If good people don't come.
08:58Then bad people will keep coming.
09:00The people I am talking about.
09:02They will keep coming.
09:04When going gets tough.
09:06The tough get going.
09:08The one who can overcome.
09:10The one who has the power.
09:12To face the problems.
09:14I used to think.
09:16There are many friends.
09:18Who have the power.
09:20Or had the power.
09:22Anyway.
09:24It is their own choice.
09:26Their family.
09:28Their health.
09:30There can be many things.
09:32I will not comment on that.