Smriti Khaannaa Urges Celebrities to Prioritise Responsibility Over Promotions

Mumbai: Television actress Smriti Khaannaa has weighed in on the debate surrounding celebrity endorsements, saying public figures should ensure the products or services they promote are safe and trustworthy before encouraging people to use them.

Speaking about concerns over WhatsApp's proposed username feature, Smriti said celebrities are not expected to be technical experts, but they have a responsibility to ask basic questions before endorsing any platform or service.

"If they are being paid to promote something, they should at least ask whether it is safe. They don't need to know everything, but blindly promoting a product can be risky," she said.

The actress added that if government authorities have expressed concerns about a feature, endorsing it before those issues are addressed can make celebrities appear careless. She noted that people tend to trust products simply because a well-known personality recommends them.

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"When a famous person says, 'Use this,' people often lower their guard and assume it is safe without checking for themselves," she said, adding that celebrities should publicly acknowledge concerns instead of remaining silent.

Smriti also questioned whether endorsement deals have become more financially driven than socially responsible. While admitting that such campaigns often offer substantial payments, she pointed out that celebrities now face increasing legal and reputational risks if the products they endorse mislead consumers.

According to her, accountability should be an essential part of every endorsement, and celebrities should be prepared to answer for promotions that could negatively impact the public, especially because fans place significant trust in their recommendations.

The comments come after the Central government reportedly raised concerns over WhatsApp's proposed username feature, citing possible risks such as impersonation, fraud and phishing. Authorities urged Meta Platforms to delay the rollout until these issues are addressed.

The feature had already received promotional support from several public figures, including Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, before receiving regulatory clearance.

Smriti Khaannaa is best known for her performances in television shows including Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann, Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal and Ganesh Leela.

With inputs from IANS