Under fire for endorsing Pan Bahar, Hollywood star Pierce Brosnan said he was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the criticism and that the company had made "unauthorised and deceptive use" of his image to endorse its entire range of products.

In an exclusive statement to People magazine, Brosnan said he had agreed to advertise a single product only , and that it was presented as "all-natural containing neither tobacco, supari, nor any other harmful ingredient".

Since Brosnan's statement was reported late Thursday night, a comment from the manufacturers of Pan Bahar was not immediately available. The James Bond actor said he has demanded that the company remove his image from all their products.