Everyone’s favourite noodle went through severe trying times, but seems to have bounced back. It has found re-acceptance even in Bollywood, if endorsement deals are anything to go by.
While Nestle is negotiating with several A-listers for endorsement (they don’t wish to be named until the deal is closed) Deepti Naval has taken the initiative. Last week she shot an ad for Maggi in Mumbai where she will be shown as a responsible citizen who always believed the product to be safe.
Says a reliable source, “Deeptiji has a very trustworthy image. Her agreeing to speak up for Maggi is a big thing. Nestle is in talks with several top stars who want to make sure that the product is absolutely safe before saying yes.”
When the mass-consumption noodle had gone off the shelf, ad and feature filmmaker had spoken up in defense of the noodle and its brand ambassador Madhuri Dixit, arguing, “As far as I know, Maggi has been in the market as a prime food item for many decades. We’ve grown up on the Maggi culture. How come it has suddenly become so controversial? Why was it found to be so harmful all of sudden when it has been in the market for nearly 40 years?” questions Balki, and gives the company Nestle and its celebrity models a clean chit.”
Nestle has a long-held reputation for delivering impeccable food products. This sudden campaign to discredit the multinational seems highly motivated. As for blaming the models, it is totally unfair. The models are not scientists who can analyze the ingredients in a product they endorse. Madhuri would have never imagined it would come to this.”
As a leading ad maker what precautions does Balki hope to exercise after this controversy? “None, none at all! There is nothing that can be done to ensure we only work on products with fully verifiable content,” says Balki.
