Ajay Devgn calls Akshay Kumar's decision to end association with Vimal a 'personal choice', says, 'I was doing elaichi'

Akshay Kumar made a public apology after the recent backlash on social media the surrogate advertising for a pan masala brand. The Bollywood star in a statement said that he has terminated his contract with the brand and decided to donate his income from the ad to a noble cause.

The ad in question, though, didn’t star Akshay alone. Ajay Devgn , who has been the most prominent face for the brand, and Shah Rukh Khan also featured in the ad for Vimal Elichi. However, Akshay was brutally trolled after an old interview of his went viral where he vocally took a stand against promoting tobacco products and brand producing them.

Ajay Devgn, who has been the face of the brand for several years now, has reacted to Akshay’s decision to back out and called it a matter of personal choice. Ajay told New 18, “I don’t want to discuss that. I would not like to comment on it but all I’d say is that when you are endorsing something it’s a personal choice. Everyone is mature to take a decision for themselves."

During the same conversation, Ajay also justified his association of several years with the brand by saying that he doesn’t support products which are harmful and is personally only associated with the brand for the promotions of elichi. He added that if certain products are wrong, they should not be sold.

Akshay, on Thursday morning, shared a note apologising for upsetting his fans. He wrote, “I am sorry. I would like to apologise to you, all my fans and well-wishers. Your reaction over the past few days has deeply affected me. While I have not and will not endorse tobacco, I respect the outpouring of your feelings in light of my association with Vimal Elaichi. With all humility, I step back. I have decided to contribute the entire endorsement fee towards a worthy cause.”