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Home > Entertainment News > Bollywood News > Article > Bollywood stars are now endorsing states in a bid to promote tourism

Bollywood stars are now endorsing states in a bid to promote tourism

Updated on: 11 September,2016 09:40 AM IST  | 
Unnati Sinha |

Of late, several stars have been endorsing states and countries. Though they may not even hail from the region, they are being roped in as the face of the place to lure tourists. Here's a crash course on who is endorsing what:

Bollywood stars are now endorsing states in a bid to promote tourism

John Abraham

John Abraham with dancers from Arunachal Pradesh after it was announced that he was the brand ambassador of the state. PIC/PRADEEP DHIVAR
John Abraham with dancers from Arunachal Pradesh after it was announced that he was the brand ambassador of the state. Pic/Praddep Dhivar


Bollywood stars have been lending their faces to sell stuff from soaps to cars to air purifiers for years now. As they exert a great deal of influence over the lifestyle choices of the common man, brand folk are willing to shell out big moolah to have them on board as brand ambassadors. It may be an expensive affair, but if it works (read: sell), then the price no longer matters.


Also, most stars end up raking in the moolah through their advertisement deals. Of late, several stars have been endorsing states and countries. Though they may not even hail from the region, they are being roped in as the face of the place to lure tourists.


Some may have done the endorsement gratis, some for a hefty fee while for the rest, there may be a sporting link to the state. Here's a crash course on who is endorsing what:

Prateik Babbar Maldives
Prateik Babbar Maldives

He may be missing from the Bollywood scene, but Smita Patil’s son is banking on endorsements. He was roped in as goodwill ambassador of the Maldives last month. Wonder what is the connect? Maybe the relaxed vibe of the island are a reflection of Prateik’s personality.

Akshay Kumar Canada
Akshay Kumar Canada

Mr Khiladi is a Canadian citizen, he has a house in Toronto and has stated that Canada is his second home. So, it is no surprise that the star became the face of its tourism campaign in 2011. Akki has also been a part of the Indo-Canadian film, Breakaway (2011).

Priyanka Chopra Assam
Priyanka Chopra Assam

Last month, Priyanka Chopra was embroiled in a controversy after she was roped in as brand ambassador for Assam tourism. Reportedly, the state government was paying her Rs 1.5 crore a day to shoot for the campaign.

PeeCee would pocket a cool Rs 15 crore for a 10-day shoot. However...

Prachi Desai Goa
Prachi Desai Goa

The actress was chosen as the brand ambassador of Goa in 2010. Her ‘modern avatar and intact traditional values’ made her the ideal candidate to be the face of the coastal state. “It is a great experience. Promoting it came with the responsi-bility of making it a safe, tourist-friendly place.”

Dharmendra, Hema Malini Haryana
Dharmendra, Hema Malini Haryana

The couple were appointed brand ambassador of Haryana last year. The actor couple will feature in tourism campaigns and their endorsement will help improve tourist inflow in the state.

John Abraham Arunachal Pradesh
What is half-Malayali, half-Parsi Johnny boy’s link with the country’s north east? He owns the North East United Football Club. Last week, the actor was appointed brand ambassador of Arunachal Pradesh by Joram Beda, Tourism Secretary, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. At the event, John said, “I am honoured to be chosen to promote the magnificent state. I am looking forward to attend the Ziro Festival of Music which is slated for later this month.” The star is also keen that filmmakers have Arunachal as the backdrop for their projects. Vishal Bhardwaj shot for his Saif-Shahid-Kangana starrer Rangoon in Arunachal Pradesh earlier this year. John added, “The serene beauty of the state will serve as an ideal location for my upcoming ventures.”

Joram Beda, Tourism Secretary, of Arunachal Pradesh said, “Our focus lies in boosting the tourism sector. For its success, we found an ideal partner (Viacom 18) who helped us get John Abraham, who over the years had played a vital role in promoting the north east, primarily by putting NEUFC on the map.”

Shah Rukh Khan Bengal
Shah Rukh Khan Bengal

He hails from Delhi and now Mumbai is home. Yet, King Khan’s connect with Bengal is as the owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders cricket team. Though he has a busy date diary, Shah Rukh is scheduled to shoot commercials for the promotion of tourism later this year.

Irrfan Khan Rajasthan
Irrfan Khan Rajasthan

The versatile actor has a connect with Rajasthan. He was born in Jaipur and lived in the Pink City till he moved to the National School of Drama in New Delhi. Last year, the actor shot for a campaign to promote the Resurgent Rajasthan Partnership Summit.

Ajay Devgn and Kajol Andhra Pradesh
Ajay Devgn and Kajol Andhra Pradesh

The actor couple had visited Andhra Pradesh in April this year over a business proposal. The state offered requested them to be brand ambassadors for the state, but they reportedly opted out due to lack of professional approach.

Anusha Dandekar Thailand
Anusha Dandekar

The singer and former MTV VJ was appointed brand ambassador of Thailand in a bid to attract more all-girls trip. Thanks to its beaches, spas and bargain shopping, Thailand is a favourite holiday destination for many, especially women. Surveys prove that 30 per cent of Indian travellers to Thailand constitute women. They want to double the figure by 2022. Anusha was pencilled in for her deep-rooted love for Thailand. And also because she symbolises the carefree traveller who loves to have getaways with her girl gang.

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