Celebrities can't increase sales: SRK

MUMBAI: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan may have delivered a box-office hit with almost every film he has acted in but says endorsement by celebrities does not necesarily result in increase in sales of the product.

Speaking to mediapersons at a function on Sunday to mark his appointment as brand ambassador of Nokia, Khan said, "Nokia does not need me to push sales".

"I cannot take a brand forward. Just because my face is there, people are not going to use it," he said modestly, though the company, of course, is looking for brand Shah Rukh to gel with its products.

Devinder Kishore, Marketing Director of Nokia India Pvt Ltd said sales are driven by many things. Celebrity endorsements help build a strong brand preference in the minds of consumers.

He said there is synergy between Nokia brand and personification of Shahrukh brand, both have a youth connect, are trendy and tech-savvy. Shahrukh is more than a brand ambassador. He is a brand champion, Kishore added.

Asked how long would Shahrukh endorse Nokia phones, he said the agreement between the two is confidential but it is not a short-term contract.

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh, who was not well for the last two weeks, said he is planning to work on a new film soon.

"I may do a film which can be done faster, he said.