Amitabh Bachchan to be brand ambassador for Gujarat

Gandhinagar, Feb 1 (IANS) Film icon Amitabh Bachchan will be the new brand ambassador for Gujarat.

In a message to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi here Monday, Amitabh Bachchan conveyed his acceptance.

He wrote, 'You have very graciously considered my appointment as brand ambassador for Gujarat. I accept this offer of yours with great humility. I hope we shall be able to work together for the betterment of Gujarat.'

On Jan 6 during his visit to Gandhinagar for a special screening of 'Paa' for Chief Minister Modi, Amitabh had expressed his willingness to be the brand ambassador of Gujarat.

When replying to a question by mediapersons, he had said: 'I would be happy to lend my face and voice for the cause of Gujarat.'

He had been all praise for the development in Gujarat and said the state was a place worth visiting again and again. Amitabh had also said that if the government planned a documentary to showcase the state, he would like to be a part of it.

A thrilled chief minister followed up the conversation with a formal offer and the filmstar conveyed his acceptance.

Earlier in his blog, the filmstar was fulsome in his praise of the chief minister after his Gujarat visit. He had stated: 'He (Modi) lives simply and with mere basic needs and most unlike the head of a state. He speaks with affection on development and progress. He is welcoming to fresh ideas and ideals. His oft repeated phrase of him being a CM, a common man, is not misunderstood. He does and acts as he speaks.,'

'He talks of raising the level of awareness for his state through tourism and I volunteer to participate in any activity that would help promote that,' the film icon wrote explaining his interest in promoting Gujarat.