Bollywood Titans Shah Rukh Khan & Deepika Padukone Face FIR Over 'Misleading' Hyundai Ad Claims

Bollywood luminaries Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone have found themselves at the center of a legal storm, with an FIR (First Information Report) reportedly filed against them in Rajasthan. The complaint stems from their endorsement of Hyundai Motor India Ltd., specifically alleging that an advertisement for the automaker contained misleading claims regarding vehicle safety features, particularly the number of airbags.

According to reports, the FIR was lodged by a concerned citizen named Pratap Singh, a resident of Rajasthan.

The complaint asserts that the advertisement, featuring the popular duo, created a false impression about the safety standards of Hyundai vehicles. The core of the grievance revolves around the portrayal of airbags, a critical safety component, and the discrepancy between the advertised features and the actual specifications of certain car models.

The complainant highlighted that while the advertisement prominently featured the actors endorsing Hyundai cars, implying top-tier safety, the base models of some vehicles, like the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, were equipped with only two airbags despite the ad possibly suggesting more or not clarifying the distinction.

This alleged misrepresentation, according to the FIR, could lead consumers to make ill-informed purchasing decisions, potentially compromising their safety expectations.

The legal action has invoked serious sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 406 (criminal breach of trust) and Section 420 (cheating), alongside relevant provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

This suggests a grave accusation of deliberate deception and a breach of the trust placed by consumers in both the brand and its celebrity endorsers.

The incident underscores the increasing scrutiny on celebrity endorsements and the responsibility that comes with promoting products, especially those with direct implications for consumer safety.

As the investigation proceeds, all eyes will be on how this high-profile case involving two of India's biggest stars and a major automotive brand unfolds, and what implications it might have for advertising standards and celebrity accountability in the future.