NEW DELHI: Former 007 star Pierce Brosnan sparked ridicule on social media by starring in a new James Bond-style spoof commercial for an Indian mouth freshener that left fans shaken and stirred.
In adverts for Indian TV channels, newspapers and billboards, the now bearded Brosnan cut a familiar pose as he grappled with villains, flirted with beautiful women and took a spin in a high-end sports car.
But instead of concealing a Walter PKK within his immaculately-tailored tuxedo, Brosnan was revealed to be carrying a can of pan masala — a mixture of betel nut and spices that leaves lurid red stains on the mouth after being chewed or when it is spat out.
The new ad triggered a flurry of jokes, sarcastic comments and photoshopped images of Brosnan on social media, with his lips stained red or his head superimposed onto the torso of a tobacconist clad in a grubby singlet.
[textmarker color=”536AC2″]HOW TWITTER REACTED[/textmarker]
“How desperate is #PierceBrosnan for money”, wrote one Twitter user, Aseem Chhabra.
I’m jobless but not Pierce Brosnan level jobless
— Poulomi (@PouloCruelo) October 7, 2016
Pierce Brosnan’s new line
My name is bond,
*spits pan bahar
James Bond.#Piercebrosnan #panbahar— The confused sperm (@im_abubu) October 7, 2016
Pierce Brosnan has taken his dialogue too far:
“I always enjoyed learning a new tongue.” pic.twitter.com/vW5KFcSUHj— Yashi Singh (@AyushiYashing) October 7, 2016
.@PierceBrosnan was here! :p :p :p #PierceBrosnan #PanBahar pic.twitter.com/xpK9vxtbNb
— Abhishek Gureja (@AbhishekGureja) October 7, 2016
Waiting for the Queen to endorse Kalyan jewellers now 😎😂😂 #PanBahar
— Smita Deshmukh (@smitadeshmukh) October 7, 2016
My reaction on seeing a picture of #PierceBrosnan holding #PanBahar on the front page of the newspaper. pic.twitter.com/R1HG21egLE
— rhythum seth (@RhythumSeth) October 7, 2016
When celebrity takes the Aam Aadmi route. #BB10 #PierceBrosnan pic.twitter.com/3krJ1ZWyPP
— Bigg Boss (@BiggBoss) October 7, 2016
Pan masala is mixture of areca nut, pastes, spices and sometimes tobacco meant to refresh palates and aid digestion, but the makers of Pan Bahar say their product is free of nicotine.