Pahlaj Nihalani, president of AMPTPP (Association of Motion Pictures and Television Program Producers), has voiced his protest against the health ministry's directive banning smoking on screen.

He said that the ban will have tremendous logistical implications on several films under production, as producers will have to re-shoot the portions where a character is shown smoking.

Nihalani argued that the decision is a diktat as not a single member from the film industry was consulted.

"Why isn't the government looking at the Rs.300 billion tobacco industry, which employs thousands of people, instead of targeting the film industry?" Nihalani asked.