New Delhi: Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan is still the brand ambassador of Incredible India, the Indian government said on Wednesday.

The tourism ministry issued the clarification following reports in a section of the media that Aamir had been removed as the ambassador of the campaign aimed at promoting tourism in the country.

‘In response to certain news reports, about Aamir Khan, the ministry of tourism clarifies there is no change in the stand of the ministry in this matter,’ the statement read.

The ministry said it had a contractual agreement with creative agency McCann Worldgroup to produce a social awareness campaign and this featured Aamir, one of Bollywood’s most popular names.

Suspense spread over the status of Aamir Khan as brand ambassador of Incredible India campaign with the tourism ministry and the minister coming out with contradictory statements, reports Times of India.

‘Aamir Khan ceases to be the mascot for govt’s incredible India campaign, contract for which has expired,’ Union tourism minister Mahesh Sharma told news agency PTI on Wednesday evening.

‘Our contract was with the McCann Worldwide agency for ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ campaign. The agency had hired Aamir for the job. Now the contract with the agency is over. Ministry has not hired Aamir.

‘It was the agency which has hired him. Since the contract with the agency is no more, automatically the arrangement with the actor no longer exists,’ Mahesh Sharma said.

Asked specifically whether Aamir is still tourism ministry’s brand ambassador, the minister said, ‘Definitely not’.

His comments led to confusion as during the day his ministry issued a clarification stating that Aamir Khan is still the brand ambassador of Incredible India campaign.