When Prakash Padukone, Axis Bank's brand ambassador praised competitor IDBI Bank

Like a riveting badminton match, the question about sport legend Prakash Padukone praising one bank while being the brand ambassador of another shuttles back and forth. And it appears from their unwillingness to set the record straight, neither bank wants to be drawn into the match.

For those who need a quick update , Padukone was featured in a special public at ion by IDBI Bank commemorating its 50th anniversary. In the publication, Padukone was quoted lauding the quality of IDBI Bank’s service.

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Padukone, though, is currently the brand ambassador of Axis Bank, a competitor of IDBI Bank. What does the former make of its star endorser featuring in a rival’s publication? When contacted, Axis Bank responded with silence. Padukone initially said, "I do not want to comment" but then asked for an email to be sent, fol lowing which his of f ice did not respond. However, a source seeking anonymity said that Padukone’s representatives exchanged an internal note with Axis Bank assuring the company that the comment published by IDBI was three to four years old – at the launch of IDBI’s coffee table book. Regarding the quote, Padukone’s reps reportedly assured Axis Bank that "in the current incident, it is not relevant" and has been taken "out of context".

An email sent to IDBI on the matter didn’t elicit any reply, despite the bank’s initial assurance that they would respond.