Bengaluru, May 23, 2025 (ANI): Actor Tamannaah Bhatia has been as a brand ambassador for Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) on May 22. This move was taken by Karnataka government. However, state government's move sparked criticism, with many questioning of not choosing Kannada actor to represent the iconic state-run brand. While, Karnataka Industries Minister MB Patil said that Bhatia had been chosen as the brand ambassador because she had 2.8 crore followers and was the only suitable option. “I am a person who has a lot of respect for Kannada identity. This is trade, business... and should be promoted to the world and across India…...We have a prolonged strategy to take up the total sales to Rs 5000 crores...We have created an international brand of tomorrow...so that we reach the Western world as the Gulf. So under the prolonged strategy, we have involved Tamannaah Bhatia for one of the things. It was done through a committee, various actors were analysed. They were engaged with certain other products...Rashmika Mandanna, Pooja Hegde, Kiara Advani and even Deepika Padukone had endorsed some other products. She (Bhatia) has 2.8 crore followers. So, considering all of this and to have a pan-India appeal, we are selling Mysore Sandal Soap not just in Karnataka...82% of its consumption in all other southern states. So, to take it to the national level and international level, this is the first phase; tomorrow, a day may come when we go to international market and we have to have a Hollywood actress. So, this is a part of business, nothing related to Kannada...,” said MB Patil.
