Karnataka appoints Tamannaah Bhatia as Mysore Sandal Soap brand ambassador
The Karnataka government has named actress Tamannaah Bhatia as the brand ambassador for Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), the state-run company that manufactures the iconic Mysore Sandal Soap.
According to a government order issued on Wednesday, Bhatia will represent the brand for a period of two years and two days, with a remuneration of ₹6.2 crore, news agency PTI reported.
(Also Read: 'Wedding gift', says DK Shivakumar as ED probes Parameshwara-Ranya Rao link)
However, the decision has sparked criticism from some quarters, with questions being raised over the choice of a non-Kannadiga celebrity to endorse a product deeply rooted in the state's identity.
"When local Kannada young actresses like @AshikaRanganath could be taken as brand ambassador why appoint and promote Hindi ones?" a woman questioned the decision on 'X'.
Responding to the criticism, state Commerce and Industries Minister M B Patil on Thursday explained that the decision was taken after much deliberation "to penetrate markets beyond Karnataka aggressively".
Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) holds the Kannada film industry in the highest regard, Minister for Large and Medium Industries & Infrastructure Development M B Patil said, noting that some Kannada films are now giving Bollywood tough competition.
Speaking about the recent appointment of Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia as the brand ambassador for Mysore Sandal Soap, Patil clarified that while the brand already enjoys strong recall within Karnataka, the company aims to expand aggressively into markets outside the state.
'Mysore Sandal is a symbol of Karnataka's pride and also a jewel of the nation,' Patil said. 'This was a strategic decision taken independently by the PSU's board after consulting with marketing experts.'
Patil explained that selecting a brand ambassador involves careful deliberation and factors such as availability, existing non-compete clauses, social media presence, alignment with the brand, and relevance to the target audience.
'Our vision is to take KSDL's annual revenue to ₹5,000 crore by 2028,' he added according to PTI.
(Also Read: Bengaluru's lakes swell after intense rains, over 60 reach full capacity)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
55% employment to Kannadigas in group A, B in all industries: Patil
Dharwad: The state govt is committed ensure employment to Kannadigas in industrial sector and it has brought in a new policy regulating the industries setting up their units in Karnataka to reserve jobs for Kannadigas, said industries minister MB Patil. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking to reporters in Dharwad recently, he said that as per the new policy, the industries have to reserve 55% of jobs for Kannadigas in A and B categories, while the reservation in group C and D is capped at 75%. The industries too have agreed to the concept and hence emphasis has been laid to provide more employment opportunities to Kannadigas, he said. Patil stated that the Global Investors' Meet has been a success. It attracted proposals worth Rs 10 lakh crore. "We expect at least 70% of these proposals turn into a reality and the department is constantly following up with the companies", he added. The govt, in a bid to correct regional imbalance and facilitate setting up of industries in tier-two cities, has launched 'Beyond Bengaluru' scheme. The GIM too has focussed on this policy. 75% of the proposals have been asked to look for land outside Bengaluru and 40% of them in North Karnataka. Therefore, there will be industrial boom in North Karnataka very soon, he added. On FMCG cluster in Hubballi-Dharwad, Patil acknowledged that the land prices have shot up and the govt has nothing to do with it. Many farmers whose lands were identified for acquisition have moved to the courts seeking better compensation. Based on the verdicts of the courts on compensation, the KIADB has fixed the final price. However, the department is in constant touch with firms willing to set up FMCG units, he added. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Patil said NIDAC has set up its plant at Belur Industries in Dharwad and the plant has come up with an estimated cost of Rs 600 crore. It will generate 800 direct and 900 indirect employment thus supporting 3,000 families. The company which manufactures batteries and convertors in collaboration with Japan and France has plans to expand its operation and will generate over 4,000 employment in next two years, he said. The product will be exported to US and other countries.
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Jaya Bachchan scolds paparazzi at Rono Mukherjee's prayer meet: ‘Bakwas sab... gande gande'
Veteran actress once again found herself at odds with the paparazzi, this time at a solemn family gathering. On Tuesday, she attended the prayer meet of late filmmaker Rono Mukherjee at the Mukherjee residence in Mumbai, where several members of Bollywood's most respected film families came together to pay their respects. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Rono Mukherjee, known for directing films like Haiwan (1977) and Tu Hi Meri Zindagi (1965), passed away on May 28 following a cardiac arrest. He was in his 80s and the eldest among the renowned Mukherjee brothers. His death came just months after the passing of his brother Deb Mukherjee. While the atmosphere at the prayer meet remained somber, an unexpected moment occurred when Bachchan, accompanied by her daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda, was leaving the venue. Irritated by the media presence, Jaya confronted the photographers and said sarcastically, 'Chaliye... aap log bhi aaiye sath me... aa jaiye. Bakwas sab... gande gande sab,' visibly upset over the intrusion. As Shweta helped her into the car, Jaya again snapped at a paparazzo attempting to record her, saying sharply, 'Aao... aap aa jao gaadi me.' Her remarks quickly went viral online, with social media divided over her confrontational stance. The prayer meet was attended by several close family members and industry veterans, including , , Ayan Mukerji, and . Rono Mukherjee's contribution to Hindi cinema and Bengali cultural traditions was widely remembered during the gathering. He is survived by his children Sharbani, Siddharth, and Samrat Mukherjee. Rono's funeral was held at the Santacruz Hindu Crematorium, where his son Samrat performed the last rites in the presence of family and friends.
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Allahabad HC stays arrest of music producer Sunil Yadav in kidnapping case
According to the prosecution, Anupama was in love with Sunil Yadav, and they were going to get married in April this year. A two-judge bench comprising Justice Siddhartha and Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra also issued notice to Sushmita Yadav, a sister of the alleged victim, Anupama Yadav. Prayagraj, Jun 3 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court has stayed the arrest of music producer Sunil Yadav, who was booked allegedly for kidnapping a woman whom he had signed for an album, a court official said on Tuesday. On February 19, Sunil Yadav came to Anupama's house and said he had to go to Nepal for wedding shopping. He took Anupama in a car, a Mahindra Scorpio. After two hours, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sunil's brother, got a call from Anupama, who told him Sunil was not taking her to Nepal, but to Bihar. After the call, her mobile phone became unavailable. On February 22, around 9 am, Sunil Yadav told Sushmita over the phone that Anupama was not with him. Sushmita has since alleged that Sunil Yadav has either sold her sister, aged 25, or murdered her. Sunil Yadav alleged that the two sisters ran a blackmail racket. According to his counsel, Sunil Yadav had given Anupama a role in an album and paid her around Rs 6 lakh. But she refused to work on the album, and subsequently fabricated the kidnapping story, he claimed. On February 23, Sunil Yadav was booked under sections 87 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing a woman to compel her marriage, etc) of BNS at the Kotwali Police Station in Deoria district. PTI COR RAJ VN VN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
