Big B first choice to replace Aamir for 'Incredible India' campaign

Amitabh Bachchan replaces Aamir Khan as 'Incredible India'

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, the brand ambassador of Gujarat tourism, is the Modi government's first choice to be the new ambassador of its 'Incredible India' tourism campaign, according to agency reports.

"Amitabh Bachchan will be the first choice of the ministry for the job," a tourism ministry source said, adding actors Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra are among those under consideration, according to a PTI report.

A controversy surrounding actor Aamir Khan erupted on Wednesday after a section of media reported that the Centre had removed him as the brand ambassador of the Incredible India campaign under Tourism Ministry.

Comments on Twitter were fueled by speculation that the move was in response to the actors remarks on growing intolerance during the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award function last November.

However, clarifying his ministrys stand, MoS, Tourism, Mahesh Sharma said that it was purely a contractual matter with advertising agency McCann Worldgroup. The Rs 2.96-crore contract with the agency, which featured Khan in a film for the ministry, recently ended.

Amitabh Bachchan new brand ambassador of Incredible India

Aamir Khan told NDTV that he respects the government's decision to discontinue his services.

In a statement, Aamir Khan said: "It has been an honour and a pleasure for me to be the Brand Ambassador for the Incredible India campaign for the past 10 years. I was happy to be of service to my country, and will always be available for it."

"I would like to clarify that all public service films I have done till date have all been free of any cost to me. It is always an honour for me to be of service of my country, and this is how it will always be. It is the prerogative of the government to decide whether they need a brand ambassador for any campaign, and if so, who that ambassador should be," he added.

"I respect the decision of the government to discontinue with my services. I am sure they will take all appropriate steps to do what is best for the country. Whether I am brand ambassador or not, India will remain Incredible, and that's the way it should be."

Source : Yahoo India