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There might not be Rajinikanth flipping a cigarette in the air as it lands on his pout. Or Katrina Kaif revealing her punk side dragging a beedi. There might not be any more hookah parties in films and villains may not light cigars to show their swag.

NO more SMOKING!

The Indian Medical Association has demanded a "blanket" ban on smoking scenes in films. It said the existing caption cautioning viewers about the ill-effects of smoking on the health has "failed" to deter people from taking to the habit.

"We demand a complete ban on smoking scenes in films. The caption below the scene that smoking is injurious to health does not stop people emulating the smoking character depicted in the film." - Dr KK Aggarwal, IMA Secretary General

Currently, all we see is a "smoking kills" social message advertisement before the start of a movie, and filmmakers inserting a single strip of a no smoking statutory warning in all smoking scenes, like this one from Anushka Sharma's NH10.

Statistically India stands at a wary position.

The Global Adult Tobacco Survey states that about 35 per cent of adults in India consume tobacco in some form or the other.

Bollywood's fixation with smoking scenes dates back to the farthest times. From Dilip Kumar to Amitabh Bachchan, from Shah Rukh Khan to Ranbir Kapoor, everyone has smoked onscreen. Even actresses including Vidya Balan, Priyanka Chopra, Rani Mukerji and Anushka Sharma have puffed on camera. Blockbuster songs like "Beedi Jalaile" and "Chikni Chameli" have completely revolved around smoking!

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And with the number of smokers at an all-time high, IMA's efforts towards banning it in films might yield some effect on the numbers. Or will it really, considering any habit is a personal choice? We need to wait and watch if the ban is actually implemented and until the next set of figures are revealed. We just wonder what'll happen to all Anurag Kashyap and Vishal Bharadwaj films, that breathe on real-life inspired scenes, including smoking and drinking. Time to rework their screenplays, maybe!

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