Opposition to Bachchan as Kerala tourism ambassador : Minister

A week after Amitabh accepted Kerala`s request to become the state`s brand ambassador, the move is facing stiff opposition.

Thiruvananthapuram: A week after Amitabh Bachchan accepted Kerala`s request to become the state`s brand ambassador to promote tourism, the move is apparently facing stiff opposition. "I would not like to name those who have expressed their displeasure in inviting Big B to promote Kerala tourism. A few social and cultural personalities have said that this should not be done," Kerala Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said.

"Stiff opposition to this has also come from Delhi and that has surprised many of us," he said. But he did not elaborate as to who were opposing his appointment. Big B was in the state for a few functions last month. It was during an interview to a TV channel that the actor said he would gladly accept the offer to become Kerala tourism`s brand ambassador. Soon after, the Kerala Tourism wrote to him and also received his acceptance letter. "What I am told is that in the past also efforts were made to rope in the superstar but it did not materialise because of the hefty professional charges that was asked. This time too everything depends on how much he would ask and also what sort of opposition is going to surface. Let us see...," Balakrishnan said. IANS