'Railway Tracks Aren't For...': Officer Criticises Ad Featuring Milind Soman For THIS Reason

‘railway tracks aren’t for…’: officer criticises ad featuring milind soman for this reason

An advertisement by sportswear manufacturer Puma, featuring actor and model Milind Soman, has sparked controversy after Indian Railway Accounts Service officer Ananth Rupanagudi slammed it for depicting Milind Soman jogging on railway tracks. The advertisement shows Soman running along a road through a forest, eventually crossing a railway track.

Rupanagudi shared the advertisement on the X, saying, “I have a problem with this ad, @PUMA. Railway tracks aren’t meant for jogging and it’s treated as trespassing. @milindrunning- you should have verified this before shooting this ad. @PUMA, please put a disclaimer on this ad.” He also tagged the Ministry of Railways in his post.

The officer’s post got mixed reactions, while some echoed his concerns about safety and trespassing on railway property, others argued that the location might be an abandoned track or not owned by Indian Railways.

Responding to criticisms, one user pointed out, “Why is he assuming it is ‘Indian Railways’? Ad could have been shot anywhere. And maybe it is an abandoned railway track. And then tagging @/RailMinIndia as if they care about safety of passengers, is the bigger joke here.”

Another user questioned the focus on the advertisement amidst larger issues faced by Indian Railways, such as delayed trains and overcrowded compartments. However, supporters of Rupanagudi argued that safety concerns should not be ignored regardless of other problems faced by the railways.

Addressing concerns about Soman’s actions in the ad, one user shared a personal experience, “While residing at a cottage in Lovedale, Ooty, the railway tracks parallel path was the only access and hence most of the times, I used to walk on the tracks to reach home. Of course, this section of the railway witnessed only the mountain train chugging occasionally.”