Nawazuddin Siddiqui, a well-known Indian actor, has recently been involved in a legal dispute regarding an ad he participated in for the international beverage brand Sprite.
Dibyayan Banerji, a Kolkata-based lawyer, filed a petition against him in the Calcutta High Court for allegedly hurting Bengalis’ emotions in the Bengali-dubbed version of the ad.
The ad features Siddiqui laughing at a joke that didn’t sit well with many Bengalis. The joke says, “Shoja anguley ghee na uthley, Bangali khali petey ghumiye porey,” which translates to Bengalis sleep hungry if they don’t get anything easily. The ad was based on the popular Bengali idiom, “Shoja anguley ghee na uthley, angul bekatey hoy,” which means that if you can’t achieve something easily, you have to work harder to achieve it.
The lawyer filed the petition, arguing that while he had no objections to the Hindi version of the advertisement, the Bengali version was disrespectful to Bengalis. Siddiqui has yet to reply publicly to the complaint.
Following the outcry, the ad was pulled from television and social media channels, and Sprite India apologized in Bengali.
The statement indicated that the firm truly regretted the ad campaign and would immediately remove it from Bengali media. It also emphasized the company’s dedication to preserving the state’s respect and heritage through its service, new investments, CSR, and social consciousness.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui faces legal action for controversial Sprite ad.
— Sprite India (@sprite_india) April 19, 2023
Nawazuddin made headlines in January when his ex-wife Aaliyah claimed that she was being harassed at his home in Mumbai. She had returned with their children from Dubai and the actor’s mother had filed a complaint against her over a property dispute. The case has since been ongoing, with both parties leveling allegations against each other.
Also read: Nawazuddin Siddiqui leaves his Nawab bungalow over property dispute
