Ever the talk of the town, Salman Khan has recently been all over the news regarding the Blackbuck poaching case. Did he kill the Blackbuck, considered an endangered species? Or is he protecting a friend, as rumors say since the case included four other actors— Saif Ali Khan, Neelam Kothari, Tabu, and Sonali Bendre who were acquited.
The Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor has been at the center of controversy for a long time, from his breakup with 1994 Miss World winner Aishwarya Rai to his violent outbursts and drunken misdemeanors.
Despite that, he has a large follower base and has endorsed many brands over the years. In fact, he even founded a charity, Being Human, that focuses on providing education and healthcare for the underprivileged.
Yatra
Yatra’s current ambassador Ranbir Kapoor’s predecessor was Salman Khan. “Yatra.com, which has already cemented its presence in the online travel industry, is further building its position through the partnership with Salman Khan. The association is part of a well-thought-out strategy to strengthen the company’s connect with the masses”
Any regrets? We wonder.
Thums Up
In 2016, Salman was dropped as the brand ambassador for Thums Up and Padmaavat actor Ranveer Singh replaced him. Was this a strategic move that perhaps predicted the public debale or was it just the common age-old move of older actor replaced by younger one? The media certainly has seen a lot of his ‘toofani’ attitude.
Relaxo Footwear
Relaxo has had many famous faces as its brand ambassadors including Shahid Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif and Shruti Hassan. Salman happens to be on the list too. In this ad, we see him in a relaxed setting that perhaps conflicts with his well known angry young man image. If you were to visit Relaxo’s site you would see that he still remains their brand ambassador. How wise do you think that is considering the current scenario?
Splash
Featuring Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan, the renowned fashion brand Splash’s ad lasting just a little more than 30 seconds, seems to focus purely on celebrity faces and the attractive collection displayed.
Emami
Perhaps the most recent brand he’s endorsing is Emami’s edible oil, Himani. In January 2018 Emami announced Salman Khan as their brand ambassador for their edible oils. Interestingly, the legendary Amitabh Bachchan also happens to be their brand ambassador. Considering the history between Salman and Amitabh’s daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Rai, this might have come as a shock.
Brands that showcase Salman might at this point be facing a conundrum. The publicity might work in their favor, but it may not as well. Considering the high profile of the case it could cause a dent in brand images to be associated with him. Add to that his endorsement fee ranges from 3.5 crores to 5 crores per day. However, despite the case, many of his followers have rallied to support him. What then, according to brands, would be the right decision? Would it be smarter to continue with Salman as their ambassador, or to change pace by picking someone with less of a bad boy image?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
