Smoking scene creative requirement: ?Guzaarish? producer

Panaji : Film production house UTV Software Communications Pvt Ltd, in its reply to the protest letter by National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE), has said that the smoking scene of Aiswarya Rai Bachchan in the movie ?Guzaarish? was ?merely a creative requirement of the script.?

?The scene in which the character, played by Aiswarya Rai Bachchan, is shown smoking, was merely a creative requirement for the script,? reads the reply letter to the anti-tobacco watchdog – NOTE.

NOTE, on November 15 had written to former Miss World protesting against the posters of Sanjay Leela Bhansali?s film wherein she was shown puffing a cigarette.

?We understand that as a healthcare profession, it is your prerogative to oppose any activity that may promote smoking. However, whilst we appreciate your concern, we would also like to mention that the film ?Guzaarish? is not about smoking and neither does it promote smoking in any manner whatsoever,? producer’s letter read.

The producer also said that the scene was not meant to offend or encourage smoking among youths.

But, NOTE has flatly refused to accept the clarification.

Salkar told reporters on Wednesday that the film contains several scenes but the producer picks up the smoking scene in their advertisement campaign.

?I have seen the movie. There is only one scene of smoking and the poster chooses only this scene. This is a deliberate attempt to promote tobacco,? he alleged.