AR Rahman Denies Receiving Offer to Become Rio Olympics Goodwill Ambassador
Music maestro AR Rahman said he has not been approached by Indian Olympic Association to be 2016 Rio Olympics goodwill ambassador. Earlier, Salman Khan's appointment for the post created controversy
Highlights
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Rahman was reportedly approached to be 2016 Rio Olympics ambassador
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Salman Khan was earlier appointed ambassador, but it created controversy
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Sachin Tendulkar and Abhinav Bindra have also been appointed ambassadors
Music composer-singer A.R. Rahman on Monday denied that he has received any offer from the Indian Olympic Association to become the goodwill ambassador for 2016 Rio Olympics but backed superstar Salman Khan for the post.
Asked at the trailer launch of film "Pele: Birth of a Legend" about being approached to become a goodwill ambassador, he said: "I heard it from the press. It was all over the place; it was on google news spread. I didn't get any email yet. Maybe my management knows, I don't know."
There have been reports that Rahman, along with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and ace shooter Abhinav Bindra were approached by the IOA to become the goodwill ambassador for the Olympics to be held in Rio de Janerio later this year.
About Salman's appointment, Rahman said: "I think he is a very popular face, why not?"
Salman's appointment created controversy with some current and former sportspersons such as athlete Milkha Singh, wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and cricketer Gautam Gambhir raising objections and stating that a sportsperson would be a better choice than an actor for the post.
Asked if a sportsperson would be better than an actor for the post, Rahman said: "Very true, good question, not to ask me, but the board."
Along with "Pele: Birth of a Legend", Rahman has scored music for another sports-based film - the biopic on Sachin Tendulkar. Rahman previously composed and performed the opening song of the London Olympics 2012.