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Why Sangram Singh turned down Rs 2.5 crore ad

May 14, 2014 12:58 IST

Sangram SinghR C Cola, the century-old American beverage, has just lost an Indian ambassador.

Known to be an iconic cola in the USA, it failed to impress Indian wrestler Sangram Singh enough to agree to endorse it in India.

Apparently, the company was willing to offer Sangram Rs 2.5 crores to be the Indian face of  the cola but he turned it down.

"I don’t touch alcohol, cigarettes and colas. I’ve never tasted them. Why should I endorse something that I have never tried personally?" he asks. "I said no to R C Cola’s offer although the money was very good."

Sangram feels celebrities, especially sports persons, need to be very careful about the products that they endorse.

"Whole generations look up to us. We have to set the right example. Otherwise, what kind of a society are we going to build for future generations?” he asks.

Sangram feels pained when he sees actors and sportspersons selling colas. "They are known to be harmful to health. It is wrong to sell harmful goods. We, from the entertainment and sports world, have voices that people listen to. We must use it to promote the right values and that includes the things that we eat, drink, wear and use,” he signs off.

Subhash K Jha