Photos : Pierce Brosnan says he was ''cheated'' into advertising Indian mouth wash linked to harmful tobacco

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Pierce Brosnan says he was cheated into advertising Indian mouth wash which is associated with a type of harmful chewing tobacco.

The former Bond actor had been ordered by the Indian government to explain why he appeared in adverts for a product called Pan Bahar or face two years in jail.

Brosnan has since said that company Ashok & Co, which makes Pan Bahar, did not disclose the harmful nature of the product to him.

The firm has not responded to the actor's statement, but told the BBC in 2016 that there is no tobacco in Pan Bahar. Advertising tobacco is against the law in India.

The ad, seen on Indian TV channels, newspapers and billboards, sees Brosnan play a Bond-like hero, grappling with villains, flirting with women and driving a high-end sports car.

It ends with the 64-year-old Irishman revealing that his 'secret weapon' hidden in his tuxedo is a jar of Pan Bahar.  Pan Bahar is commonly associated with pan masala or gutka, a type of chewing tobacco which also contains betel nut, lime, and clove which is then spat out in bright red streams.


The substance is addictive, has been linked to cancer, and is banned in several Indian states. Others heavily discourage its use.Brosnan was criticised when the adverts were first broadcast and he soon condemned Pan Bahar, claiming that they had lied to him and misused his image.

He claimed he was 'deceived' and that his contract said he was endorsing 'breath freshener' or 'tooth whitener' containing 'neither tobacco, supari, nor any other harmful ingredient'.

Brosnan made further accusations against the company, saying that they had 'manipulated' media agencies into thinking he was an ambassador for the product and apologised to anyone he may have offended, mentioning his own losses due to cancer.

He said: 'Having endured, in my own personal life, the loss of my first wife and daughter as well as numerous friends to cancer, I am fully committed to supporting women's healthcare and research programs that improve human health and alleviate suffering.'

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