Amitabh Bachchan : Not part of Modi government’s ad campaign

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says that he has not been asked by the Narendra Modi government to be part of its ad campaign that stresses the need to rise above caste and religion.

There were reports that the 72-year-old actor would feature in a TV ad which seeks to ask Indians to rise above religion for inclusive development. Bachchan took to Twitter to set the record straight. Bachchan has, however, been the brand ambassador of many government campaigns, including polio eradication, saving the tiger and Swachh India campaign.

Reports of Bachchan featuring in the ad campaign had taken a political colour, with the Congress taking potshots at the government. “Now the crow is imitating the swan’s movement. All this camouflaging, all this gimmickry and advertising will not substitute what the government has done on issues like conversion,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said on Wednesday.

Singhvi was reacting to questions on media reports that while MoS Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is set to tour areas which have a high minority population, Bachchan has been roped in for an ad film that stresses the need to rise above religion and caste for inclusive development and growth of education. Reports suggested that the advertisement was expected to be out by Republic Day.

“The news by media that PM and PMO have asked me to be involved in a campaign film, is incorrect !! Kindly rectify .. thank you !” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, on the big screen, the 72-year-old actor will be seen in R. Balki’s “Shamitabh”.