Panama Papers may cost Amitabh Bachchan his role in ‘Incredible India’

According to a leading daily, megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s appointment as brand ambassador for the ‘Incredible India’ campaign is being on hold after the actor’s name surfaced in connection with the ‘Panama Papers’.

Some reports suggested that Bachchan’s alleged links to two shipping firms registered in the tax haven had put his selection under a cloud.

Official sources said no decision had been taken yet, and were reluctant to link Bachchan’s selection to the Panama Papers controversy pertaining to leaks about Indians with offshore accounts.

Meanwhile, tourism ministry officials have told the newspaper that appointment of brand ambassador was done through a public relations agency and not by the ministry.

“At present, the ministry has initiated the process of appointing a PR agency that is impaneled by DAVP.” a ministry official is claimed to have said.

The brand ambassador appointment for the government’s prestigious Incredible India campaign was subject to another controversy recently following actor Amir Khan’s comments on the “intolerance” debate.

He ceased to be the ambassador soon after, though it was officially attributed to the expiry of a contract with a creative agency for the initiative.