In an exclusive interview with Bharathi S Pradhan for Lehren Retro, Shatrughan Sinha recalls the instance when he urged the Romantic Star of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan to quit smoking. The actor-turned-politician bats for vigorous promotion of anti-tobacco campaigns & highlights about the pledge which he took with his contemporary, Amitabh Bachchan - for quitting the use of cigarette smoking. The Shotgun Star also gives his unique take on Thalaiva Rajinikanth getting inspired by the latters on-screen cigarette flipping style in films. #shatrughansinha #shahrukhkhan #rajinikanth #shatrughansinhainterview #lehrenretro
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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 have to learn from him.
07:08But it will be tough for you.
07:10But I feel that.
07:12I have heard it before.
07:14A good person.
07:16A good person.
07:18Is not entering into politics.
07:20Then he should be ready to be governed by the bad people.
07:22A good person.
07:24Is not entering into politics.
07:26He should be ready to be governed by bad people.
07:28If good people will not come in politics.
07:30Then.
07:32In the rule of bad people.
07:34Ghut ghut ke jeene ke liye, ghut ghut ke marne ke liye tayyaar hain na chahiye.
07:39Aaj shayad yehi sab baatein hain, ya Jai Prakash Narayan je se prabhavit hua main,
07:44ya itne saalon se 6 baar ka MP hun,
07:47koi mazaak nahi hoda kahiye toh lagataar, nirantar,
07:52uske baujood, aaj toh 2-2 baar Hindustan mein poore Bharat Varsh ke film industry ka record tuta,
07:59ki cabinet minister bana, full-fledged cabinet minister.
08:03He was the first actor.
08:05First actor, first film personality.
08:08Yeh bahut chahiye.
08:09Full-fledged cabinet minister.
08:11Cabinet minister of health and family welfare and then cabinet minister of shipping.
08:16Toh uske baujood, aaj tak kai baaton se aap meri sahmat hoon ya sahmat na hoon,
08:21but yeh toh aap maanenge ki aaj tak aapne kabhi bhi, kisi bhi haal mein, kabhi bhi, kisi vakt,
08:27aapne mere khilaf koi corruption ka koi allegation nahi suna hoga, aaj tak kabhi bhi nahi suna hoga.
08:34Toh yeh toh fortunate hain hum, lucky hain hum kahenge,
08:37acha lagta hain hum koi sunke.
08:39Toh bhai zarur humara maana hai abhi bhi,
08:43hala ke ab toh bahut paise ki raajneeti hogayi hai,
08:46kya kya nahi hora hai, kya kya kharche nahi hora hai,
08:49kya kya jaal saazi nahi hora hai, bahut kuch hora hai.
08:53Lekin uski mein aapko raafta nikalna hoga.
08:56Abhi ache log nahi aayenge, toh phir bure log toh aate hi rahenge,
08:59jink ke baare mein aap keh raha hu, jaal saazi jo karte hain, chahiye,
09:03wo toh karte rahenge.
09:05Museebat hai, when going gets tough, the tough get going.
09:09Museebaton se paar wohi ka sakta hai,
09:12jiske andar museebaton ko jhelne ki shakti hoti hai, mujhe lagta tha.
09:16Ki Rajni Patel.
09:17Ki Rajni Kande, aise aur bahut saare humare dost hain,
09:20jinke andar yeh shakti hai, ya shakti thi.
09:23Bairhaal, yeh unka apna choice hai.
09:26Unke parivaar ka, unka, unke sehat ka, bahut saari baatein ho sakti hai.
09:31Toh uspe mein kabhi koi tika tipni nahi karunga hai.
09:35Okay.