Draft:Vimal Gutkha

Vimal Gutkha or Vimal is a gutkha brand in India. 'VNS product Ltd' firm is the owner of it. It is one of the top-selling gutkha brands in India.

VNS product Ltd produces Vimal Gutkha and Vimal Elaichi. The company is associated with Manikchand Group RMD Pan masala, which is the owner and manufacturer of Manikchand Gutkha, a formerly popular gutkha brand.

Vimal Gutkha is made from ingredients such as tobacco, slaked lime, and areca nut (betel nut). People who consume it in significant quantities tend to get addicted to it. Since advertising of tobacco and gutkha products is prohibited in India because of their harmful impact, Vimal does its advertising by surrogate advertising through its other product Vimal Elaichi. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is Vimal's brand ambassador and appears in Vimal's ads. When Kumar signed an endorsement deal with Vimal, people criticized him; later he assured to the public in a statement that he will discontinue the contract after the present one is finished.

Ban
It is banned in Maharashtra state and selling or transporting it is a criminal offence under Indian law. In Maharashtra, police sometimes check vehicles to arrest those who smuggle Vimal and other types of gutkha. Some registered trademarks of Vimal include Vimal Pan Masala, Red, Jhatka, signature are classified as tobacco goods and smokers’ items, under the Indian law's Trademark Act, 1995.

Even though gutkha selling is banned in Maharashtra, Vimal and other types of gutkha are still being sold in Maharashtra. Oftentimes, smugglers smuggle Vimal from Maharashtra's neighbouring states.

Marketing
Advertising of Tobacco related products is prohibited in India; because of this, Vimal, like other gutkha and alcohol manufacturing companies, advertises its tobacco products through surrogate advertising. In print media and on TV ads it only promotes 'Vimal Elaichi', but the packaging and appearance of it is similar to the carcinogenic Vimal Gutkha. Bollywood actors Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar are its brand ambassadors. Vimal Elaichi is generally advertised during international cricket matches and Indian Premier League (IPL) matches. Vimal first signed Devgan then Kumar as ambassadors and created "Vimal universe".

Incidents
In 2018, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), India sent a notice to Vimal for allegedly advertising tobacco product, "Vimal Gutkha" through surrogate advertisements of 'Vimal Elaichi' in newspapers. DGHS said Vimal did violation of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (COTPA) Act. Vimal is Vimal firm's registered trademark for Vimal Gutkha, pan masala and for things made up of nicotine. Ajay Devgn often receive heavy backlash because he advertise 'Vimal Elaichi ' of Vimal. During promotion of this film Runway 34, he said he "I was doing Elaichi (Ad)", and further added that "What I feel is more than advertisements, if certain things are so wrong, then they should not be sold." A similar incident took place between the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation and Directorate of Health Services Kashmir.

In 2022, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar signed an endorsement deal with Vimal. The public criticized him for promoting harmful tobacco, Gutkha product, later he apologised to the public and said he will use the money from Vimal's advertisement deal to do pro-social work. He also announced to pull out from the deal. “Your reaction over the past few days has deeply affected me. While I have not and will not endorse tobacco, I respect the outpouring of your feelings in light of my association with Vimal Elaichi. With all humility, I step back,” he tweeted.