Eminent singers like Salim-Sulaiman, Vishal Dadlani, Shaan, Kunal Ganjawala, Benny Dayal, Shadab Faridi, Neha Bhasin, Jonita Gandhi, Shilpa Rao, Aditi Singh, Bhoomi Trivedi, Anusha Mani, Mamta Sharma, Rasika Sekhar, Akriti Kakar etc and actors like Vivek Oberoi are all set to perform at a free-online concert named “Yes To Life… No To Tobacco”. It will be held on June 7 from 8 pm onwards, to create awareness and support cancer patients battling in the wake of COVID-19 on the occasion of World No Tobacco Week organized by Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) & World Health Organisation (WHO). The concert will be free for all to watch on TIKTOK India’s official handle.

The proceedings received from the concert will be used for underprivileged patients who travelled to Mumbai for their cancer treatment but got stranded due to the Coronavirus lockdown. CPAA has been providing them with monthly ration supplies, guiding them with the shelter facilities along with hygiene kits consisting of masks, sanitizers among others.

The concert will be free for all to watch on TikTok India’s official handle and guarantees 150 minutes of non-stop fun and entertainment.

Anita Peter, executive director of CPAA, says, “World No Tobacco Day 2020 will seek to educate policy-makers and the general public with regard to the tobacco industry’s harmful tactics and to alert smokers and potential smokers on the most important preventable cause of death and disease in youngsters. CPAA is proud to be working in the field of cancer for the last 50 years whereby we have helped more than 3000 oral & Lung cancer patients annually. During this pandemic, tobacco users have high risk of Coronavirus as smoking weakens their lungs.”

Cancer Patients Aid Association is a registered, charitable organization working towards Total Management of Cancer Patients and Awareness to Rehabilitation, since the last 51 years. CPAA assists poor patients by giving them free medical aid, food supplements, prosthesis, transport services besides counseling the patients, offering rehabilitation facilities and tobacco control being one of the major activity of the organization. CPAA have been commemorating World No Tobacco initiative since 2003 with the support of WHO for better awareness on health impact of tobacco control and reinforcement of effective laws.

As Aishwarya Rai Bachchan turns 45 today, Abhishek Bachchan takes a break from film shoot, whisks her away for an impromptu vacation in Goa
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; November 1, 2018)

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan may prefer a low-key birthday, but you can count on Abhishek Bachchan to plan a surprise for wifey dearest. The doting hubby, who has been shooting for Anurag Basu's next in Hooghly (see pic below), took a break to spend some quality time with his better half. We hear, he whisked Rai and daughter Aaradhya off to Goa to celebrate the actor's 45th birthday today.

Says a source, "Abhishek wanted to be by Aishwarya's side when she rang in her birthday. So, he flew down on Monday night from Anurag Basu's shoot of the Life In A Metro sequel. Abhishek hosted a surprise party at the Bachchans' Juhu address last night. It was a private do with only family and close friends in attendance. Aishwarya even visited the Siddhivinayak Temple last night, after which the trio headed out to Goa early this morning. It is essentially a quick family getaway before Abhishek dives headlong into the shoot of Anurag's film again on November 4."

The source adds that on the occasion, Rai will make her annual contribution to the Cancer Patients Aid Association for the treatment of children suffering from cancer — a practice she has been following over the past eight years. While she has a tradition of visiting the children on her birthday, she will have to give it a miss this time around.

Anita Peter, executive director, Cancer Patients Aid Association, says, "Whenever Aishwarya is in Mumbai, she takes time out to meet our patients. We have been told that she is travelling and hence, won't be visiting us on her birthday. However, she has conveyed to us that she would love to meet the kids once she's back."

WHO anti-tobacco spokesperson Vivek Oberoi on his plans to convince people to kick the butt
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 12, 2018)

Like Hollywood actors Matt Damon and Ashton Kutcher, who not only kicked the butt but also began an anti-smoking movement for a healthier, tobacco free lifestyle, actor-businessman Vivek Oberoi has been working on a movement to eradicate smoking. The actor, who has become the anti-tobacco spokesperson for the World Health Organisation (WHO) and has launched a new initiative, Tobacco Free Police Stations, gave up smoking 15 years ago.

The 41-year-old actor recently conducted tobacco awareness workshops with 3000 police personnel, 1000 BEST employees and 450 junior artistes working across film industries. He is now focussing on the transgender community in Maharashtra. “We had screened 500 transgenders as a part of our pre-cancer detection camp, out of which 75 per cent consume tobacco in various forms. After interacting with many of them, it was delightful to see many of them kick the butt after 15 years or more. This was possible due to the intervention of the Cancer Patients Aids Association (CPAA) with whom I’ve been working closely for the last decade,” informed Vivek who felicitated five transgenders — Vikram R Shinde, Madhuri Sarode Sharma, Priya Patil, Mahi Gupta and Mona Kamble — last month for embracing this lifestyle change.

In 2012, he banned smoking from his sets. “Do you know that India tops the list of drinkers and smokers that increases the risk of heart attacks, cancer and other deadly diseases,” the actor reasons, alarmed to learn about the increase in tobacco consumption. “I wish more people would come forward to address this issue and help create awareness.”

Soumya Vajpayee Tiwari (MID-DAY; May 30, 2018)

Organisers of Farhan Akhtar’s live gig in the city have revealed that the actor will perform without a fee. The charity event, titled Farhan Akhtar Live In Concert, Love For Life Begins With Music, has been organised by Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) to mark World No Tobacco Day tomorrow, and will be held at the city’s Rangsharda Auditorium.

Y K Sapru, founder, chairman and CEO, CPAA, tells mid-day, “Farhan is a talented artiste with a golden heart. He is doing our show free of cost. Music is the best way to reach out to the youth and draw in crowds. We want to use the event as a platform to ask the youth to celebrate life by saying no to tobacco.”

Sapru informs that funds raised for the event via its sponsors, will go towards the treatment of needy cancer patients, apart from awareness campaigns about the ill-effects of tobacco. Talking about his association with the organization, Akhtar had previously stated, “I am happy to be associated with this important cause that can make a difference to society. I am thankful to the CPAA for inviting me to use my music as a platform for spreading awareness.”

On his playlist are his popular renditions, including, Sinbad The Sailor, Dil Dhadakne Do, Main Aisa Kyun Hoon, Socha Hai, Pichhle Saat Dinon Mein, Atrangi Yaari, Tum Ho Toh, Senorita, Havan Kund, Dil Chahta Hai and Rock On, among others. Akhtar will also recite two poems, Toh Zinda Ho Tum and Dil Aakhir Tu Kyon Rota Hai, from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), during his 90-minute set. Singers Neha Bhasin and Divya Kumar are also part of the artiste line-up.

Anirban Das (MID-DAY; June 13, 2016)

Best known for blowing up cars and adrenaline-pumping fight scenes in his films, Rohit Shetty’s oeuvre belies his sensitivity. The filmmaker, we hear, has adopted 10 cancer-stricken children and will take care of their medical expenses.

Rohit took the decision when members of the Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) approached him to attend one of their events. “The CPAA along with World Health Organisation hosted an event on Saturday to spread awareness about the ill- effects of tobacco consumption. And for this, CPAA wanted Rohit to be one of the chief guests. But, he asked for a detailed narration of his role at the event,” informs a source.

After learning more about CPAA, he decided to adopt the kids and donate money for their chemotherapy. “Rohit wanted to do something beyond merely being present at the event. He has adopted 10 cancer-afflicted children and has also donated Rs 5 lakh for their treatment,” adds the source.

While Rohit could not be reached for a comment, Anita Peter, executive director, CPAA, says, “Yes, Rohit has adopted 10 kids. He didn’t know much about our organisation, but when we briefed him about our work, he just donated a certain amount for the kids’ treatment. He wanted to do more than just attend the event.”

Mumbai Police have launched the ‘Tobacco-Free Mumbai Police’ campaign to discourage consumption of tobacco among their ranks; however, its brand ambassador was booked for smoking a hookah in a public place in 2012
Vinay Dalvi (MID-DAY; May 23, 2015)

Mumbai Police embarked upon an admirable campaign yesterday to free their policemen from the clutches of the addiction of tobacco. The ‘Tobacco-Free Mumbai Police’ campaign kicked off yesterday, with actor Vivek Oberoi as its brand ambassadors. Ironically, Oberoi himself was booked in 2012 for smoking in a public place.

The campaign is a much-needed one since 14 policemen lost their lives due to cancer last year — and chewing tobacco is a habit prevalent among many cops and is seen as the leading cause of the deadly ailment.

The drive seeks to motivate policemen to let go of the habit by ranking police stations as ‘Tobacco-free police stations’ and also including a component of it in their grading, along with the work profile. Kicking the tobacco would reflect positively in their grades. When police were asked how they would ascertain if the cop had actually overcome his addiction, officials said it would show in the quality of work.

An initiative supported by the Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA), Oberoi, along with actress Raveena Tandon, inaugurated the campaign yesterday. However, Oberoi, who is also the ambassador of the anti-smoking initiative by the World Health Organisation (WHO), was caught smoking a sheesha in March 2012, at Mabrook, a restaurant in Sahara Star, the five-star hotel at Vile Parle. Sheesha is a blend of molasses, fruits, and tobacco.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Vasant Dhoble, who had earned the title of anti-nightlife crusader due to his raids on bars and restaurants during his stint at the Social Service (SS) branch, had booked the Saathiya actor under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003.

Recalling his raid, Dhoble, who is now posted with the Missing Persons Bureau, told mid-day, “The actor then wanted to escape and told me that if he was caught, it could spoil his image. But I told him that if he tried to escape, he would have to be stopped forcefully. After which, Oberoi sat with the other patrons and was booked for smoking in a public place. I later handed him over to the Airport police station.”

mid-day tried contacting Atul Kulkarni, joint commissioner of police, Mumbai Police, for his comments on why Oberoi was chosen as the face of the campaign despite his being booked once for smoking in a public place. At the time of going to press, he was yet unavailable for comment.

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; December 10, 2014)

Vivek Oberoi has apparently agreed to be the face of a pan masala brand, but on one condition. The actor has asked the company to add another clause in his deal. He has asked them to donate a part of their profit to an NGO that he supports. The said NGO works for cancer victims.

A source says, “Vivek was in talks with the officials and after a few rounds of discussion, he said yes to endorsing the product. In fact, he will soon be shooting for a commercial, but wants them to donate money to the NGO.” Incidentally, the brand has also agreed to allot approximately Rs 25 lakh to the NGO apart from giving him his regular fees.

Another source says, “Vivek has also requested them to put a precautionary warning on their product that this product is tobacco-free and consuming tobacco is not good for health.” So the whole idea about adding the clause was to spread awareness and also get attached to the brand.

Vivek remained unavailable for comment.