Bollywood's greatest icon Amitabh Bachchan has agreed to become brand ambassador of Gujarat. “Bachchan will participate in the development of Gujarat. He will especially use his image worldwide to promote Gujarat as a tourism destination,” state government officials said on Monday, reports Times of India.
Interestingly, Bachchan was in Gandhinagar on the same day on January 6 that his close friend Amar Singh had sent in his resignation from all posts to Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh.
Modi and Bachchan had watched ‘Paa' together at a multiplex in Gandhinagar after which Big B had asked for the movie to be made tax-free. Modi had accepted the proposal within 48 hours.
Modi, on the other hand, had formally made an offer to Bachchan for becoming the brand ambassador of the state after their meeting.
There seems to be mutual appreciation between the two. “The chief minister was impressed with Bachchan's blog, where he had said that he was willing to raise the level of awareness for Gujarat through tourism. He had volunteered his services then,” a Modi aide said.
“Bachchan agreed to Modi's proposal in a letter on January 26. He said he was impressed by the CM's style of working, Gujarat's culture and progress,” the aide said.
Bachchan in his blog had praised the chief minister saying “Modi lives simply with mere basic needs, unlike heads of other states. He speaks with affection on development and progress”. However, later he sought to retract his statement, saying he did not “endorse Modi, only Gujarat”.
