Actor Aamir Khan, whose comments on perceived intolerance in the country had created a controversy, ceases to be the mascot for government's 'Incredible India' campaign as the contract for it has expired.
“Our contract was with the McCann Worldwide agency for ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ campaign. The agency had hired Aamir for the job. Now the contract with the agency is over. Ministry has not hired Aamir. “It was the agency which has hired him. Since the contract with the agency is no more, automatically the arrangement with the actor no longer exists,” Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said today.
On if Aamir is still Tourism Ministry's brand ambassador, the minister said, "Definitely not".
‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ campaign, part of the Incredible India campaign, was launched during the UPA regime. Earlier, the ministry issued a vague statement in response to news reports following government's answer to an RTI query on the issue.
“The ministry clarifies that at present it has a contractual agreement with McCann to produce social awareness campaign and the said campaign featured Aamir Khan," the ministry statement said.
Two months ago, Aamir had made controversial comments on perceived intolerance in the country for which he was criticised by many senior Union ministers.
At an event, Aamir had said his wife Kiran Rao had asked if they should move out of the country, as she feared for the safety of their children.
Prasoon Joshi, head of McCann Worldwide agency, only said: “We had a contractual agreement with the Ministry. Aamir had graciously lent support... the contract for Rs 2.96 crore was over.”
“Our contract was with the McCann Worldwide agency for ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ campaign. The agency had hired Aamir for the job. Now the contract with the agency is over. Ministry has not hired Aamir. “It was the agency which has hired him. Since the contract with the agency is no more, automatically the arrangement with the actor no longer exists,” Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said today.
On if Aamir is still Tourism Ministry's brand ambassador, the minister said, "Definitely not".
‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ campaign, part of the Incredible India campaign, was launched during the UPA regime. Earlier, the ministry issued a vague statement in response to news reports following government's answer to an RTI query on the issue.
“The ministry clarifies that at present it has a contractual agreement with McCann to produce social awareness campaign and the said campaign featured Aamir Khan," the ministry statement said.
Two months ago, Aamir had made controversial comments on perceived intolerance in the country for which he was criticised by many senior Union ministers.
At an event, Aamir had said his wife Kiran Rao had asked if they should move out of the country, as she feared for the safety of their children.
Prasoon Joshi, head of McCann Worldwide agency, only said: “We had a contractual agreement with the Ministry. Aamir had graciously lent support... the contract for Rs 2.96 crore was over.”
