Shahrukh Khan on second hand smoking

I am particularly glad that Shahrukh Khan, the better known Indian film star, has come to speak on the ban on smoking in films. It is amusing to however read his interpretation of a hoarding sign in London- “But I do remember seeing a sign in London which said, 'Papa, when you smoke, I smoke too.' I don't know whether my smoking would make my child a smoker. But if you tell me that such a thing can happen, I'd like to take it seriously." He has clearly misinterpreted the issue of second-hand smoking that kills over 58,000 people every year. Though I am extremely glad to learn that the actor recognizes that the so called creative expression and smoking are not tied together by default and he makes a good case of portraying Churchill. But I am also left wondering how long it might take the anti-tobacco campaigns to penetrate the mindset of Indian masses that do not always have access to the best of information, and I do wonder if they can always interpret it correctly. Second, more than the emphasis on banning it in films (which I agree will be quite difficult if not impossible to sustain) the Indian govt. should consider banning it in public places. That is where more and direct harm of second hand smoking exists.

Another useful site: http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/tobacco/secondhand_smoke.cfm