Tamannaah Bhatia faces backlash over ₹6.2 crore Mysore Sandal Soap endorsement deal
Bengaluru: Actress Tamannaah Bhatia has been announced as the new brand ambassador for the iconic Mysore Sandal Soap, having signed a deal worth ₹6.2 crore with the Karnataka government. However, the move has sparked sharp criticism from pro-Kannada activists and cultural outfits, who question the choice of a non-Kannadiga to represent a brand deeply rooted in Karnataka’s heritage.
Prominent Kannada filmmaker Kavita Lankesh voiced her discontent, accusing the government of promoting a narrow beauty standard. “Why are we chasing this so-called ‘milky white’ beauty when Karnataka has no dearth of talented and beautiful actors? This is taxpayer money, and we deserve answers,” she said, as quoted in a News18 report.
Roopesh Rajanna, a leader of the Yuva Karnataka Vedike, has threatened to protest in front of the Mysore Sandal Soap factory unless the endorsement is revoked. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike president T Narayana Gowda also denounced the decision, calling it an "insult" to the people of the state.
In response to the uproar, Karnataka Industries Minister M.B. Patil defended the selection, explaining that the state-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) aims to expand its reach beyond Karnataka, and Tamannaah’s pan-India appeal would help achieve that goal.
KSDL officials added that several leading Kannada-origin actresses, including Deepika Padukone, Rashmika Mandanna, and Pooja Hegde, were approached but could not be signed due to existing brand commitments.
Despite government clarifications, the backlash continues, with many urging KSDL to reconsider its decision and choose a brand ambassador who better represents Karnataka’s cultural identity.
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Karnataka offers extensive incentives in its proposed IT policy
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka has proposed a new Information Technology Policy for 2025–2030, offering extensive financial and non-financial incentives aimed at accelerating investments, strengthening innovation and expanding the state's tech footprint beyond Bengaluru.
The Karnataka Cabinet gave its nod to the policy 2025–2030 with an outlay of Rs 445.50 crore on Thursday after the Finance Department accorded its approval.
The policy introduces 16 incentives across five enabler categories, nine of which are entirely new, with a distinctive push to support companies setting up or expanding in emerging cities.
Alongside financial support, the government is also offering labour-law relaxations, round-the-clock operational permissions and industry-ready human capital programmes to make Karnataka a globally competitive 'AI-native' destination.
According to the policy, units located outside Bengaluru will gain access to a wide suite of benefits, including research and development and IP creation incentives, internship reimbursements, talent relocation support and recruitment assistance.
The benefits also include EPF reimbursement, faculty development support, rental assistance, certification subsidies, electricity tariff rebates, property tax reimbursement, telecom infrastructure support, and assistance for events and conferences.
Bengaluru Urban will receive a focused set of six research and development and talent-oriented incentives, while Indian Global Capability Centres (GCCs) operating in the state will be brought under the incentive net.
Incentive caps and eligibility thresholds have been raised, and the policy prioritises growth-focused investments for both new and expanding units.
Beyond incentives, the government focuses on infrastructure and innovation interventions.
A flagship proposal in the policy is the creation of Techniverse -- integrated, technology-enabled enclaves developed through a public-private partnership model inside future Global Innovation Districts.
These campuses will offer plug-and-play facilities, artificial intelligence and machine learning and cybersecurity labs, advanced testbeds, experience centres, and disaster-resistant command centres.
There will also be a Statewide Digital Hub Grid and a Global Test Bed Infrastructure Network, linking public and private research and development, and innovation facilities across Karnataka.
The government has proposed a Women Global Tech Missions Fellowship for 1,000 mid-career women technologists, an IT Talent Return Programme to absorb experienced professionals returning from abroad, and broad-based skill and faculty development reimbursements.
Shared corporate transport routes in Bengaluru and tier-two cities will be designed with Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation and other transport entities to support worker mobility.
The government said the policy is the outcome of an extensive research and consultation process involving TCS, Infosys, Wipro, IBM, HCL, Tech Mahindra, Cognizant, HP, Google, Accenture and NASSCOM, along with sector experts and stakeholder groups.
It estimates an outlay of Rs 967.12 crore over five years, comprising Rs 754.62 crore for incentives and Rs 212.50 crore for interventions such as Techniverse campuses, digital grid development, global outreach missions and talent programmes.
