Amitabh Bachchan on Monday denied charging 63 million rupees (Dh3.6 million) to promote the DD Kisan television channel owned by Indian national broadcaster Doordarshan.
“I wish to state that I have not entered into any contract with Doordarshan, on the endorsement of their channel DD Kisan, and neither have I received any money from them,” the 72-year-old actor said in a statement. “I worked with the advertising agency Lowe Lintas on the campaign for DD Kisan, and have not entered into any contract with them either, nor have I received any money from Lintas,” he added.
Bachchan said endorsing the channel was his pro bono act.
“My ‘deliverables’ on this campaign have been executed by me many days ago. I work pro bono on various issues and DD Kisan Channel is one of them. If there is any evidence or proof to the contrary, please forward them to me for verification,” the actor said.
Indian media reported that Bachchan asked for 63 million rupees to endorse DD Kisan, amid suggestions that Lintas had a tough time getting the celebrity to do the campaign.
DD Kisan is a public-funded 24-hour channel dedicated to the agriculture sector that was launched by prime minister Narendra Modi in May 2015.