I have no motive but to say the truth: Revant Himatsingka on Bournvita row

Influencer ‘Foodpharmer’ Revant Himatsingka made headlines with his video on Bournvita, attacking the brand’s claims of it being a “health drink”. He soon took down the video, which was already viral, upon receiving a legal notice from Cadbury. Revant by then had achieved celeb status with support pouring in from all corners.

In an exclusive interview with e4m, Revant shares his experiences post the row and the various facets of the influencer marketing medium, his take on freedom of speech and much more.

“The public reaction has been super positive. I am getting messages and emails saying that they will read the content behind the package now after watching my video. People are also concerned about their health and what they are giving to their children. 97-98% public has supported me. My relatives are very scared saying I should not take ‘panga’ with the companies. The reaction in my immediate surrounding is negative but the public reaction is positive.”

On what triggered the idea for the video and if he expected it to go viral, Revant says:

“It was a one-minute Instagram reel. I wanted people to be aware, and it was not specific to one company. It was just that too many unhealthy products market themselves as healthy and I get really bothered. I have a problem with cigarette companies but I have a lesser problem with them because most people who consume them know that it is unhealthy and the same with soft drink companies.”

“I have a bigger problem with health drinks because people are giving it to their children mostly twice a day. If consumers know that the product is unhealthy and still choose to consume it, it’s their choice. So, I decided to make this video.”

Revant chose not to comment on the legal notice but said he had only 24 hours to respond and opted not take any legal support and went ahead with taking the video down.

Asked if he was going to make more such videos, he said, “I am still making videos on health but it's not about any specific brand. I will make videos on specific brands as well because that’s what people want to hear, and I believe it will improve people’s health as well.”

“Freedom of speech should be allowed. And I made a video on this as well that if people can review iPhones, if they can review movies, why can I as a nutritionist not review a food product.”

On the intervention by government bodies, he said, “ASCI reached out to me asking if I had been paid by any other competitor. I told them, of course, I was not.”

Speaking on de-influencing, Revant said: “I used to call myself a demotivational speaker. I feel that you can pay influencers and ask them to say what you want to say but a de-influencer has no motive but to say the truth. They are not being paid by anyone and they have nothing to gain from it. I don’t want to focus on the negatives only, I can talk about the positives as well.”

Asked about his next move, he said he was taking it one day at a time. “There is a lot of scope in educating people.”