Former Bond star Pierce Brosnan, who played the suave, unflappable 007 in GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough, flaunts a can of pan masala in ads that debuted on Friday in newspapers, billboards and channels.
Not just a still, he has also done a video for the same wherein he can be seen pulling his Bond-like stunts using the small tin-pack. And it’s hilarious to see him utter ‘Pan Bahar’ in his Irish accent. “Pan Bahar.
Class never goes out of style,” he says. What’s more interesting is that he doesn’t flick open the can and taste what he is promoting, at least in the ad. Does he even know what it is? asked some on social media.
The campaign created by DDB Mudra and shot in Texas, blends the pan masala brand with the epitome of sophistication. Some are calling it clever, others positively outrageous.
Pierce Brosnan endorsing Pan Masala. Yeh kaise din aagaye hai! pic.twitter.com/vx6T1uqcdf
— All India Bakchod (@AllIndiaBakchod) October 7, 2016
"Our choice of Pierce Brosnan as brand ambassador for Pan Bahar is in line with our campaign idea of 'Pehchan Kamyabi Ki' (the mark of success). Thanks to his previous avatar as James Bond, Mr Brosnan is seen the world over as a symbol of sophistication, suavity and success. And Pan Bahar, as his choice, reflects that aspiration in the consumer base we were targeting," said Sambit Mohanty of DDB Mudra.
Also, it’s not the first time he is promoting an Indian brand. Brosnan has appeared earlier in ads for Reid & Taylor. Reportedly, the idea behind getting him on board was that Bond is an epitome of perfection and this one is the best of all pan masalas available.
Pierce Brosnan.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) October 7, 2016
Played James Bond.
Endorses Pan Bahar.
Licensed to kill.
Diehard Bond fans are decidedly shaken.
Shocking, positively shocking, said Internet, to quote a famous Bond line.
pic.twitter.com/EjWdy1XTDU Brexit has hit MI5 so hard that it's agents are advertising for pan masalas in India.
— अंकित 🇮🇳 (@indiantweeter) October 7, 2016
Pan Bahar has earlier been endorsed by Feroz Khan, Fardeen Khan and Saif Ali Khan and it has also drawn flak for health concerns.
We have Pierce Brosnan endorsing Paan Bahar. Soon we'll have Emma Watson endorsing Lijjat Papad and I can die in peace.
— Shivam Shukla (@Shivam013) October 7, 2016
Priyanka Chopra chews Rajnigandha & now Pierce Brosnan chews Pan Bahar. Now I know why I am not successful, will start chewing gutka today.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) October 7, 2016
When the brand ambassador is also a satisfied consumer of the product, he puts down his signature. You mean Pierce Brosnan chews Pan Masala. pic.twitter.com/IqLVZFVv0K
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) October 7, 2016
