There was news of Aamir Khan having been removed as the brand ambassador of Incredible India. The rumours were tied to controversial statements he had made regarding intolerance in India. Yesterday, however, the Ministry of Tourism came out in support of the Bollywood star, clarifying that Khan was not “removed”; all that had happened was that his contract had ended.

This Is What Aamir Khan Had to Say about No Longer Being Brand Ambassador for Incredible India:

Reacting to the decision to terminate his contract, Aamir himself said, “It has been an honour and a pleasure for me to be the Brand Ambassador for the Incredible India campaign for the past 10 years. I was happy to be of service to my country, and will always be available for it.”

“I would like to clarify that all public service films I have done till date have all been free of any cost to me. It is always an honour for me to be of service of my country, and this is how it will always be. It is the prerogative of the government to decide whether they need a brand ambassador for any campaign, and if so, who that ambassador should be,” he said.

He further said, “It is always an honour for me to be of service of my country, and this is how it will always be.  I respect the decision of the government to discontinue with my services. I am sure they will take all appropriate steps to do what is best for the country.”

He ended with, “Whether I am brand ambassador or not, India will remain Incredible, and that’s the way it should be.”

A day after Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan‘s contract as the brand ambassador for Incredible India expired, Amitabh Bachchan‘s name was finalised to replace him.