A World Health Organization (WHO) study has shown that the Hindi film industry’s support for smoking tobacco usage has increased. It said that 89% of films showed prominent characters smoking and shockingly 27% mocked health warnings about cigarettes. Federal Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss said “portrayal of tobacco on screen is a proven risk factor for children. The Government needs to minimize such risks.” Chandigarh-based Non-Government Organization Burning Brain Society, which performed the study for the WHO said, “After the ban on advertisement, it seems the tobacco companies have diverted money to fund films.” Pointing out that 1 in 3 children recalled smoking scenes in movies and 60% admitted to using pens or pencils to depict smoking scenes, Cancel Patients Aid Association said, “children are strongly influenced by what they see in movies.” Prominent film producers disagreed and sought to sully the study. They claim that a blanket ban of smoking in movies will stifle creativity. Ramdoss had a plan that would have a blanket ban smoking in movies and insist that smoking scenes in older movies carry a scrolling message warning the user about its health effects.