With Bollywood icons like Shah Rukh Khan lighting up billboards, it’s no shock that Vimal ads controversy 2025 is blowing up online – especially after a Noida commuter’s bold call-out on surrogate advertising at a metro station. As folks dig into “Noida metro Vimal complaint” amid rising chats on pan masala loopholes, Saransh Sagar’s X post has netted thousands of views, questioning why addictive brands get prime real estate in public spaces. If you’re scrolling for the latest on surrogate advertising Vimal Elaichi or wondering if DMRC’s guidelines need a rethink, this October 31 dust-up at Noida Electronic City station lays it bare: one man’s stand against “intoxicating” promos that’s got everyone from daily riders to regulators talking.
The Viral Complaint That Lit the Fuse
It was a routine commute turned activist moment for Saransh Sagar, who couldn’t ignore the massive Vimal Elaichi posters staring down at him from Noida Electronic City Metro Station. Snapping pics of the ads – giant visuals of SRK flashing that signature smile while hawking the “mouth freshener” – Sagar fired off a pointed X post tagging DMRC and Noida Authority. His frustration? These aren’t just spice ads; they’re a sneaky nod to Vimal’s pan masala roots, the kind of stuff that hooks folks on tobacco without saying it outright.
Sagar didn’t hold back, laying out his beef in a raw, Hindi-spiked rant that’s since racked up shares and nods:
“Is this promotion happening at Noida Electronic City Metro Station with the permission of Delhi Metro? These are relatives of such intoxicating substances that a person can easily become an addict or dependent by consuming them! Please do not spoil the dignity and prestige of the metro by putting up such promotions @OfficialDMRC @noida_authority”
Posted on October 30, it tapped into that growing “Vimal Elaichi surrogate ad” fatigue, where searches for pan masala workarounds spike every IPL or celeb endorsement drop. For Sagar, a metro meant clean commutes, not subtle pushes toward addiction – a sentiment echoing louder as urban India grapples with public health pitches clashing with ad dollars.
Unpacking the Vimal Ads: Why “Elaichi” Feels Like a Front
Vimal Elaichi pitches itself as harmless cardamom bliss – think fresh breath after a heavy meal – but critics, including Sagar, see red flags. The brand’s deep ties to pan masala and gutkha (banned in parts of India for tobacco links) make these spots classic surrogate advertising Vimal Elaichi, where legal “fresheners” moonlight for restricted chews. SRK’s star power amps the irony: the anti-smoking advocate from past PSAs now fronts billboards that skirt bans, fueling endless “Shah Rukh Khan Vimal ad controversy” scrolls.
At Noida Electronic City – a buzzing hub for techies and families – these posters aren’t subtle. They’re floor-to-ceiling, SRK grinning with that “zubaan ek ho” tagline alongside Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn vibes from older spots. No wonder Sagar’s post hit a nerve; it’s the everyday exposure that grates, especially when kids and quitters pass by daily. Broader buzz ties back to 2025’s legal jabs, like Jaipur courts slapping notices on SRK, Devgn, and Tiger Shroff for “misleading” saffron claims in Vimal promos – a ₹4 lakh/kg luxury allegedly crammed into ₹5 pouches.
DMRC’s Response: Revenue Rules, But Feedback Welcome
DMRC didn’t ghost the heat – they clapped back quick on X, sticking to policy over panic. Their reply? A measured defense of ad spaces as cash cows for operations, with Vimal Elaichi cleared under the rules:
Namaskar, Thank you for your suggestion. The Delhi Metro rents out advertising space in metro stations and trains to increase its revenue. The license agreement includes a “restricted list,” which covers items that cannot be advertised. The advertisements mentioned above are not included in this restricted list. Additionally, for any suggestions or questions, you can write to us at https://pcms.dmrc.org/careqr/
नमस्कार,
आपके सुझाव के लिए धन्यवाद। दिल्ली मेट्रो अपनी आय बढ़ाने के लिए मेट्रो स्टेशनों और ट्रेनों में विज्ञापन की जगह किराए पर देती है। लाइसेंस समझौते में एक “प्रतिबंधित सूची” होती है, जिसमें उन चीज़ों को शामिल किया जाता है जिनका विज्ञापन नहीं किया जा सकता। उपरोक्त जिन…
— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) October 31, 2025
It’s a classic corporate pivot: Ads fund the rides, and as long as it’s not outright booze or smokes, it’s game. But the “restricted list” loophole? That’s catnip for surrogate advertising DMRC debates, where elaichi slips through while gutkha stays shadowed. No word from Vimal yet, but past dust-ups – like Akshay’s 2022 apology for similar endorsements – hint brands brace for backlash.
Netizen Firestorm: From Support to Calls for Bans
Sagar’s tweet didn’t simmer; it simmered into a storm, with X erupting over surrogate tactics and celeb complicity. Supporters flooded in, slamming the ads as “health hazards in disguise” and urging ASCI (Ad Standards Council) to sniff out the subtext. One thread nailed the public pulse:
They smartly get away with the convenient laws framed. Fucking the whole world knows that nobody is eating elachi & actually consuming gutkha in name of sopari & the eye opener the role models Ajay Devgan & Akshay kumar promoting zubah Kesari…..dare Kajol & Twinkle to…..
— Samir Desai (@samank1407) October 31, 2025
मेरा भारत महान 🇮🇳
Govt needs to stop just watching the show 👀 and start acting!
No brand approvals for elaichi & pan masala under the same name — that’s just shady.
Even the Law Minister alongwith health minister should wake up and see, reforms are long overdue! 🚨🇮🇳
— Ketan Shah (@ketanshah786) October 31, 2025
“This is surrogate advertising at its worst – promoting addiction under the elaichi mask. DMRC, rethink your spaces!”
इलाइची का ad है भाई। बोलो जुबां केसरी
— Dukhi Patrakar (@dukhipatrakar) October 31, 2025
Vaise mere hisab se to inhen gutka plus Daru bhi allow kar deni chahie to ye uske liye Mana kyon kar dete jab is chij ka promotion kar rahe hain to pic.twitter.com/pMOL6mIvVY
— Lokesh (@Lokesh07613523) October 31, 2025
Others looped in SRK’s glow-up post-Pathaan, questioning why a global icon backs this. The ripple? Hashtags like #BanVimalAds trending, tying into bigger 2025 gripes on pan masala notices and IPL elaichi overloads. Here’s a quick vibe scan from the chaos:
