Ajay Devgn

The Maharashtra FDA asked Ajay Devgn, Shah Rukh Khan and Tiger Shroff to cease or withdraw Vimal Elaichi advertisements, considering that the brand's use could amount to surrogate advertising for pan masala banned in the state. As of 26 August 2026, the regulator stated that it had received no response from the actors.

State of the evidence

Regulatory notice documented and follow-up as of 26 August 2026

Legal status — source text

Show-cause notice / request for explanations; no final decision as of 27 August 2026

Attribution

Personal responsibility for participation in the advertising campaign

A Jaipur consumer commission issued notices to Ajay Devgn, Shah Rukh Khan, Tiger Shroff and the manufacturer of Vimal Pan Masala following a complaint challenging, in particular, the advertising claim that "every grain contains saffron".

State of the evidence

Consumer commission notices documented

Legal status — source text

Consumer proceedings ongoing in the verified sources; no final decision found

Attribution

Personally implicated as a celebrity appearing in the advertisement

Ajay Devgn was criticised for his Vimal advertisements, a brand associated with pan masala. He defended his choice by arguing that he was promoting elaichi, a legal product, and that products considered genuinely harmful should be banned by the authorities.

State of the evidence

Advertising campaigns and direct statements documented

Attribution

Personal responsibility for his advertising partnership

After Kiccha Sudeep stated that Hindi was no longer the national language, Ajay Devgn responded on Twitter that Hindi "was, is and will remain" the national language. The exchange reignited a nationwide political debate, although the Indian Constitution does not grant any language the status of "national language".

State of the evidence

Public exchange and constitutional context documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Personal responsibility for his public assertion

Ajay Devgn faced criticism, notably from Tanushree Dutta and Vinta Nanda, because Alok Nath still appeared in De De Pyaar De following allegations of sexual violence against Nath. Devgn had previously expressed support for the #MeToo movement.

State of the evidence

Casting, public criticism and Ajay Devgn's response documented

Legal status — source text

No personal proceedings against Ajay Devgn

Attribution

Responsibility limited to his role as actor-producer and the decision to retain the scenes

The Panama Papers documented that Ajay Devgn had acquired all the shares of Marylebone Entertainment Ltd in the British Virgin Islands in 2013, a structure which he said was intended to exploit film rights overseas.

State of the evidence

Panama Papers documents and response documented

Legal status — source text

No personal proceedings or conviction established in the verified sources

Attribution

Personal responsibility for ownership and management of the offshore company

Following an assessment for financial year 2013-14, the income tax department reportedly identified transactions or income deemed suspicious and demanded approximately 6 crore rupees in additional tax from Ajay Devgn. The actor approached the "high-pitched assessment committee", alleging an unfairly aggressive assessment.

State of the evidence

Tax assessment and taxpayer's challenge documented

Legal status — source text

Assessment challenged through an internal mechanism; final outcome not found in the verified sources

Attribution

Personal responsibility as taxpayer; amount and classification disputed

During the competition between Shivaay and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Ajay Devgn released a recording and called for an investigation following a claim that Karan Johar had paid critic KRK 25 lakh rupees to disparage Shivaay. KRK subsequently denied receiving the money and counter-accused Devgn of offering him money.

State of the evidence

Released recording and conflicting accusations documented; payment not established

Legal status — source text

No conclusive legal proceedings identified

Attribution

Personal responsibility for publicising the allegation and requesting an investigation

The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti asked the CBFC to intervene against Singham Returns, arguing that the film portrayed certain Hindu holy men negatively. Following discussions with the team, including Ajay Devgn and Rohit Shetty, several disputed elements were removed.

State of the evidence

Letter to the CBFC, objections and scene removals documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility as lead actor and producer

Ajay Devgn Films approached the Competition Commission of India, accusing Yash Raj Films of using Ek Tha Tiger's distribution strength to reserve screens for Jab Tak Hai Jaan at the expense of Son of Sardaar. The CCI dismissed the complaint, and COMPAT subsequently dismissed the appeal.

State of the evidence

CCI complaint and appellate decision documented

Legal status — source text

Complaint dismissed by CCI; appeal dismissed by COMPAT in 2013

Attribution

Responsibility as executive/producer of the complainant company

A Chandigarh lawyer sent a legal notice to Ajay Devgn, actor and producer of Son of Sardaar, claiming that certain dialogue and depictions portrayed Sikhs negatively and hurt their religious sentiments.

State of the evidence

Legal notice and status as actor-producer documented

Legal status — source text

Pre-litigation notice; no personal conviction found

Attribution

Direct responsibility as actor and producer of the film