Bollywood plays a vital role in tourism, and the Assam Tourism department knows that. No wonder they are excited to get a Bollywood celebrity to be a brand ambassador of their ‘Awesome Assam’ campaign.
Now that Priyanka Chopra is the tourism ambassador of Assam, she says the tourism plan is not just about making a tourism video.
“When I met Assam’s Chief Minister saab (Sarbananda Sonowal), we spoke a lot about what we could do together because the idea of me coming on-board was always about developing the film industry in the region and bringing opportunities to the local talent and artistes. And not just films, television should be an option too,” said the actress-filmmaker-singer.
Priyanka plans to develop a series which will showcase Assam’s musicians, pop culture, sports personalities as well as the adventure opportunities and wildlife.
“The series will highlight aspects of the state that the rest of India is unaware of. The script is not concrete yet but I am hoping it will roll soon,” she said, adding that she will be a narrator and the face of the series. She has already completed shooting for one campaign. “I have a say in all the creatives that feature me. I’ve had a conversation with the Government’s team working on the videos and hopefully, the local population will receive it well,” added Priyanka Chopra.
Also Read: Rongali Festival: Promotes Assam’s tourism & diverse culture
Watch: Assam Tourism Video
Assam Tourism: Top Places to See
Priyanka Chopra to charge Rs.15 crore for ‘Awesome Assam’ Tourism Campaign?
Bollywood celebs can be very expensive, and that is why, even before a Bollywood celebrity has been confirmed, there are already rumours that Priyanka Chopra has been roped in for the ‘Awesome Assam’ campaign worth for a staggering Rs. 15 crores (she will charge Rs 1.5 crore per day and the shoot is expected to last 10 days.)
The news has already gathered lot of attention, though as per the sources, the deal is yet to be finalised.
Assam Tourism Minister recently said that the state government will introduce a single window clearance system for film shoots, to help promote the tourism potential of the state.
While people have already started criticising Priyanka Chopra for charging such exorbitant fee, especially when the state is reeling under the worst floods, the state Tourism Development sent out a letter saying that the media reports about her remuneration were not true. Assam tourism department were also in talks with Ranbir Kapoor, Sachin Tendulkar and Deepika Padukone.
“Discussion is on with three celebrities, one of which is Chopra. However, nothing has been finalized yet.” Himanta Biswa Sarma, Tourism Minister
Many in Assam have apprehensions whether Priyanka Chopra (or for that matter any other Bollywood star) will do wonders for Assam tourism.
“A brand ambassador’s job can come into effect only when tourism is developed entirely. Or else, it won’t work. More needs to be done in terms of infrastructure development. Assam is a tourism haven. People love to come here and they are curious. We need to remove obstacles and develop facilities for tourists.” Assamese Filmmaker
While there are others who want the government to clearly spell out which parts of Assam will be developed (because they are going to spend crores on a Bollywood celebrity).
“People should be made aware of the budget and how it would benefit Assam. If the plan is confirmed, it should also be made clear which place in Assam will be highlighted. For Gujarat, for instance, Amitabh Bachchan is seen talking about the Gir and Somnath temples. What will be shown for Assam?” Surjya Hazarika
PC will not be in India until December this year (working on ‘Quantico’ II); however, she is keen to be a part of the tourism campaign.
