Amitabh Bachchan apologises for smoking p

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan Tuesday tendered a written apology after receiving a legal notice for featuring on a film's poster with a cigar in his hand.

'I am deeply apologetic of the advertisement that has hurt the sentiments of the people at large and organisations such as yours,' Bachchan said in a letter to the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE), the anti-tobacco group that had served him the notice last week.

NOTE secretary Shekar Salkar, a Goa-based cancer surgeon, had served the notice for violating Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act of 2003 as promos of Bachchan's movie 'Family' feature him with a cigar.

'Bachchan, being the icon that he is in India, is bound to have an indelible influence on youth,' Salkar had said. 'This was the only consideration that prompted us to act and serve him the notice.'

In his letter, Bachchan said that he had no knowledge of the publicity campaign.

'I have made a note of anti-tobacco legislation and informed my producers and told them to take immediate steps so that no such violation takes place as far as I am concerned,' he said.

The actor further said that he had not touched wine or cigarettes for the past 30 years except for film shots.