Akshay Kumar slashes endorsement fee by half for a brand that has made drought-related losses

One of the few actors to have taken up the cause of drought-stricken, debt-ridden farmers in the state, Akshay Kumar donated Rs 90 lakh last year to agricultural families in distress. And if the latest buzz is to be believed, Akshay Kumar has gone a step further by halving his endorsement fee for a brand that has been affected by the drought situation.

Says a source, "Akshay was signed as the face of a concentrated drink mix maker last year and while renewing the contract this year, the brand officials had a chat with him. They informed him the drought has hampered their production since they procure raw material like fruits from farmers. Many farmers have either lost their crops or have not got enough returns. The company is suffering losses and so, they requested him to consider a fee cut."

It is said that Akshay was approximately getting Rs 10 crore to endorse the brand and now he will charge half of it. The actor remained unavailable for comment.

A source close to the brand confirms the buzz and says, "When he heard about the company's situation, he immediately agreed to take slash his fee. The company is planning to re-launch their product in the market with a new campaign and Akshay is likely to shoot their new commercial in a few days."