Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on his 79th birthday on Monday announced that he has terminated his contract with a pan masala brand, saying that he wasn't aware that it 'falls under surrogate advertising'. A statement issued on behalf of Amitabh read: "'Kamala Pasand'... a few days after the commercial was aired , Mr Bachchan contacted the brand and stepped out of it last week. "Upon checking why this sudden move - it was revealed that when Mr Bachchan became associated with the brand, he wasn't aware that it falls under surrogate advertising."

The statement from Amitabh's office further read: "Mr Bachchan has terminated the contract with the Brand, has written to them his termination and has returned the money received for the promotion."