Celebrities not solely accountable for misleading ads: Parineeti Chopra

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Celebrities endorsing products or services need to do their due diligence and educate themselves «to the best of their ability but can't be held solely accountable if, in rare cases, claims go wrong,» said actor Parineeti Chopra.

The Golmaal Again and Mission Raniganj star was speaking to ET, after announcing expansion plans for personal care startup Clensta where she is an investor.
«We associate with a product with that sense of responsibility. However, we are not creators of the product; we are here to put the word out, whether it is a food item or a shampoo,» she said.

Last year, the government revised the guidelines for celebrity endorsements against misleading ads, violations of which can be heavily penalised, including fines of ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.
The consumer affairs ministry's guidelines advise celebrities and influencers to review and satisfy themselves that the advertiser is in a position to substantiate the claims made in ads, and recommends that the endorser use the product or service. Failure to disclose any material connection with the products being endorsed, or non-compliance with the Consumer Protection Act 2019, would make such violators liable for strict action under the Consumer Protection Act, the guidelines state.

«Misleading advertisements» under the consumer protection Act refer to any ads that provide false information about a product or service, give false guarantees or are likely to mislead consumers about the nature, substance, quality or quality of a product or service.

Chopra