The Kerala tourism authorities are trying out their best to catch up the off season that would bang the tourism business in the state. Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai are being roped in as brand ambassadors for promoting its tourism campaign.With a move to boost the state tourism drive, Bachchan will be seen associated with the tourism promos, while Ash is said to be featured in Ayurveda tourism commercial. When God’s Own Country looks around for a brand ambassador to entice tourists, it wants the world’s most beautiful woman for the job. And, of course she has the country’s biggest star along with her. Bachchan is likely to cost the state over Rs 1 crore and Ash about Rs 80 lakh!

“The talks have been on for nearly six months now and both have agreed to slash the original fees, quite well appreciative of our funds constraints. I met Mr Bachchan at a tourist resort in Idukki last week. But we didn’t talk much business since it was a courtesy call,” says Kerala Tourism director B. Suman.

Right now, Amitabh Bachchan is at the Tea County in the high-range Munnar, shooting for Ram Gopal Varma’s film Nishabd. Later in the month Ash is also likely to shoot in Kerala for a song sequence with Abhishek for Mani Ratnam’s Guru.

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