Filmmaker Apurva Asrani has criticised a Delhi-based hospital for making erroneous claims in an advertisement while using his Bell’s Palsy (facial paralysis) photograph without his approval.
When a Twitter user posted Apurva’s picture used in the advertisement, the filmmaker was shocked and distressed and called out the hospital for making false claims.
The hospital's communication department representative told Sputnik on Thursday that the matter was under discussion among hospital authorities. The hospital has already removed the advertisement.
Calling it "absolutely appalling" and "unethical", many celebrities such as singers Sona Mohapatra, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, filmmaker Onir, actress Saumya Tandon and many others have been reprimanding the hospital and urging the filmmaker to take strict action against them.
The fact that the hospital used his picture without permission and made false claims that his Bell’s Palsy condition was caused by a stroke also sparked indignation online: