Kolkata:
Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma may be pulling out global investment summits from Kolkata and moving them to Agra, but actor Shah Rukh Khan is going all out to promote West Bengal.
In a promotion video that was released today, Shah Rukh Khan, the brand ambassador of the state, is calling the new Bengal a 'progressive Bengal'. The advertisement is reportedly a part of the 'Bengal Leads' campaign that has been designed to attract investors and tourists into the state.
The actor, who became the brand ambassador of West Bengal reportedly at the request of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, says "there is something special about Bengal" in the two-minute advertisement.
The video showcases various historic, cultural and industrial landmarks in the state and is set to Rabindranath Tagore's well known song - Banglar Mati Banglar Jol - sung by Shaan.
The ad is directed by award-winning filmmaker Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and ends with Shah Rukh Khan speaking in English and Bengali; the latter, with a near perfect accent. It is expected to be put on national channels in the next few days.
Shah Rukh Khan is also the co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders, the Indian Premier League franchise which won the tournament earlier this year.
(With inputs from PTI)