The Panama papers leak has prompted the government to put on hold signing up Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan as brand ambassador of the Incredible India campaign.
“His name can be considered for the role only after he comes out clean on the Panama papers leak row,” sources privy to the government’s decision said.
Bachchan, however, told media that he was yet to be formally approached by the government.
“I have not been formally approached for being ambassador of incredible India ambassador,” a news channel quoted him as saying.
Bachchan, who is ambassador for Maharashtra’s Save Tiger project, was the “most preferred” choice of the Union Tourism Ministry for assigning the role of its Incredible India campaign’s brand ambassador after Amir Khan’s exit from the global publicity campaign of Indian tourism in January.
The names of popular actors Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, however, were also doing the rounds.
However, the leak of records with Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca recently tied the ministry’s hands in taking any decision on assigning the role to Bachchan as his name figured among 500 Indian individuals and entities who owned firms and accounts in offshore tax havens.
As a row erupted after the Panama papers leak, the Bollywood superstar maintained that his name might have been misused.
“I do not know any of the companies referred to by Indian Express - Sea Bulk Shipping Company Ltd, Lady Shipping Ltd, Treasure Shipping Ltd, and Tramp Shipping Ltd. I have never been a director of any of the above stated companies. It is possible that my name has been misused,” he then said in a statement.
Bachchan was the brand ambassador for the Gujarat Tourism when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.
Amitabh Bachchan: I do not know any of the companies referred to by Indian Express - Sea Bulk Shipping Company Ltd, Lady Shipping Ltd, Treasure Shipping Ltd, and Tramp Shipping Ltd. I have never been a director of any of the above stated companies. It is possible that my name has been misused
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