Caught unawares
Before the BJP government in Haryana decided on actress Parineeti Chopra as its brand ambassador for the Beti Bachao-Beti Bachao campaign, the names of at least two other Bollywood actors, who hail from the state, were also discussed in meetings attended by officials of different departments, including health. While some women and child development department officials had also proposed Mallika Sherawat’s name for the brand ambassador’s role, another name considered was that of Randeep Hooda. Both Sherawat and Hooda belong to Rohtak. While Hooda was out as most officials were not in favour of having a male brand ambassador for the campaign to save the girl child, there was more or less consensus among the officials on Chopra who belongs to Ambala. But then none of them had anticipated a controversy on having an actress as the brand ambassador.