Shah Rukh denies plans to stub the butt

Mumbai, Aug 4 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has denied having told a Malayalam daily that he would quit smoking within two months.

Asked by IANS Monday evening whether he would give up cigarettes, King Khan replied with a terse 'No'.

The actor even declined to respond to a query whether the decision to quit cigarettes would come after a couple of months as stated in his interview.

Shah Rukh had reportedly told the leading Kerala daily Malayala Manorama that he thought of quitting smoking while he travelled 17 hours on a flight without lighting a cigarette.

'The idea of quitting cropped up during a 17-hour flight,' Shah Rukh was quoted as saying. 'So if I can do without smoking in flight, I am sure I can do without it on land too.'

The Bollywood icon had also reportedly said that he planned to kick the habit for his children's sake.

The interview was conducted at Pollachi in Tamil Nadu where the actor is shooting for Priyadarshan's 'Billo Barber'.

Shah Rukh also revealed that he had started smoking when he was 22.

The star has often been ticked off by Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss for smoking in public as it would set a bad example for youngsters.