Mumbai: YouTuber Dhruv Rathee took to his X handle recently to launch a sharp attack on global icon Shah Rukh Khan for endorsing harmful substances such as cigarettes and cold drinks despite being a billionaire.

The YouTuber shared a video on X, highlighting reports estimating Shah Rukh’s net worth at around $1.4 billion (approximately Rs 12,400 crore).

Discussing the superstar’s spending habits and ethics of celebrity endorsements, Rathee said: “Shah Rukh Khan ab ek billionaire ban chuke hai. Sahi suna aapne! News reports ke anusar, unki net worth $1.4 billion pohach chuki hai. Rupiyo mein kaha jaaye toh kareeb Rs. 12,400 crore hota hai. Jaante ho kitna paisa hai yeh? Isko imagine kar pana bhi mushkil hai. (Shah Rukh Khan is a billionaire now. Yes, you heard it right. As per news reports, his net worth is around $1.4 billion which is around Rs 12,400 crore. Do you know how much money is that? You can’t even imagine it.)”

Questioning Shah Rukh’s decision to endorse a paan masala brand, Rathee asked, “Mera Shah Rukh Khan se sawaal yeh hai, kya itne paise kaafi nahi hai kya? Agar kaafi hai toh kya majburi padi ke paan masala jaisi haani kaarak chiz ko aap abhi bhi promote kar rahe ho? (I want to ask Shah Rukh Khan if this much wealth isn’t sufficient of him? If it’s sufficient, then what makes him promote harmful products such as pan masala?)”

Urging the actor to reflect on the impact of his brand endorsements, the YouTuber said, “Sawaal yeh hai ke kya aapko yeh extra Rs. 100-200 crore ki sahi mein zarurat bhi hai? Apni andar jhaak kar honestly yeh sawaal pucho. Kya kijiyega itni dhan raashi ka? Aur dusri taraf sochkar dekho, desh ka top actor agar yeh haani kaarak chize promote karna bandh kar dega, toh kya impact padega iska desh par? ( Do you really need this extra Rs 100-200 crore? Ask your yourself. What will you do with this wealth? And on the other hand, think about the consequences if SRK stops promoting these harmful substances?)”

Shah Rukh is yet to respond to Rathee’s tirade, but an old interview of King Khan defending his choice to endorse soft drinks has resurfaced and gone viral.

In that interview, Shah Rukh asks people to urge the government to ban these harmful products in the country, instead of questioning his endorsements and income.

“I would appeal to any authority like that (Health Minister at the time), ban it. Don’t let it sell in our country. If smoking is bad, don’t let the production of cigarettes go on in this country. If you think cold drinks are bad, do not let them…If it’s poisoning our people, do not let it be made,” SRK had said.

The superstar explained, “See, my logic is, you are not stopping it because it gives you revenue. Let’s be honest about it. You’re not stopping certain products, if you think they’re harmful, but they are revenue to the government. Don’t stop my revenue. I’m an actor. I’m supposed to do a job and get revenue from it. Very clearly, if you think something is wrong, stop it. There’s no problem, just stop making it.”