Aamir Khan recently addressed the buzz around his endorsement of the Dream 11 gaming app. Known for being selective about the brands he promotes, Aamir said in an interview that he has strict conditions before accepting any advertisement offer.
Aamir said this amid the backlash he is receiving for Sitaare Zameen Par, his upcoming film. He can be seen holding multiple press conferences, and being a part of multiple podcasts and interviews to create hype for his film but early market predictions say otherwise about his upcoming project.
Why Aamir Khan Chose to Endorse Dream 11 ?
He explained, “I always check that the product is delivering what they have promised.” One of his key conditions is to never mention the price of a product in an ad. “Sometimes, I break my own principle. For example, I never announce the price of the product that I am endorsing because I am not a salesman. I am a brand ambassador. I can talk about your brand but not about its price,” Aamir said.
He admitted to bending that rule once for a Coca-Cola campaign. “Once, I broke that rule and spoke about price as well. This was during ‘Chota Coke’ for Rs 5. Because I really liked its story. It was so creative that I compromised,” he recalled.
Aamir said he has turned down several high-paying offers to promote alcohol and tobacco. So when fans saw him in a Dream11 ad, many questioned his decision.
Responding to this, Aamir said, “Recently, I did Dream11, so people asked me that you are doing Dream11, you refused alcohol, tobacco. But the script for Dream11 was so good. I couldn’t say no to it. I laughed so much after I read that ad. I was certain that I wanted to do it.”
‘If It’s Legal, Let Me Do It’
Aamir defended himself by emphasizing the legality of the product. “As for the product, if it is illegal, then ban it, then we won’t make any ads on it. And if it’s legal, then let me do it too,” he said.
Unlike other Bollywood stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Ajay Devgn, and Akshay Kumar, who have promoted pan masala brands, Aamir has stayed away from such endorsements. Akshay Kumar, in particular, faced severe backlash for endorsing a pan masala brand and eventually had to withdraw.
Aamir’s stand makes it clear that while he applies personal principles to his brand work, he’s also open to endorsing legal products if the messaging feels right to him.