Abhishek gives in to lure of money, deserts friends

Spicezee Bureau

Mumbai, March 17: Abhishek Bachchan has succumbed to what seems like an irresistible lure of big money and left his ‘family-like’ friends in a lurch. The advertising world got some shocker when Aby-Baby chose to endorse Aditya Birla Group’s Idea Cellular instead of Anil’s Reliance mobile. This after, Abhishek said in an interview, “Anil uncle and Tina aunty are my family. I’m always there for them.” Both rivals, Reliance and Idea, wanted Chhota B as their brand ambassador. However, the actor has reportedly been paid a whopping Rs 15 crore by Idea that tilted the balance in the brand’s favour and had Abhishek sign on the dotted line. A source from the advertising industry revealed to a news daily, “Abhishek has already done the BIG 92.7 FM commercial for Anil Ambani’s company and they share the best of relations. But then the Bachchans also share a fantastic rapport with Kumar Mangalam Birla and there was no way that Abhishek would turn the Idea offer down. It is true that the Ambanis considered him to promote Reliance, but he couldn’t take up the offer because of the obvious clash of interest.” Guess the love of ‘uncle-aunty’ was too damp before the warmth of bank-notes!