State frowns at Chopra offer

Guwahati: The much-hyped move by the state government to bring Priyanka Chopra on board as the brand ambassador for the Awesome Assam campaign met mixed reactions in the state.
Unofficial sources suggested the Quantico star is charging Rs 1.5 crore for a 10-day promotional shoot. Official sources however said the entire episode surrounding Chopra's supposed role as the iconic face of Assam is yet to be finalized.
Tourism minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, 'Discussion is on with three celebrities, one of which is Chopra. However, nothing has been finalized yet." The state government is also in talks with actor Ranbir Kapoor, little master Sachin Tendulkar and Deepika Padukone for the role of Awesome Assam's brand ambassador.
As reports remained unclear, Padma Shri awardee, litterateur and vice chairman of the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra Surjya Hazarika said the entire plan should be made public since it was an ambitious idea.
"It is not confirmed as of now. 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?" Hazarika said.
President of the All Assam Students' Association (Aasu) Dipanka Nath expressed similar concerns. "Which tourist spots will be developed? Which spots will be covered? The state government should make the entire plan clear," he said.
A critic of the appointment of an 'expensive' brand ambassador was a renowned Assamese filmmaker, who does not want to be named in the controversy.
"This is wrong. I don't support this trend. More needs to be done in terms of infrastructure development. A brand ambassador's job can come into effect only when tourism is developed entirely. Or else, it won't work. Assam is a tourism haven. People love to come here and they are curious. We need to remove obstacles and develop facilities for tourists," said the filmmaker.