IIFA doesn't want me, says Big B

New Delhi: After endorsing the mega event for a decade, Amitabh Bachchan has decided to part ways with IIFA saying the organisers "don't want" his services. In a surprise post on his twitter page, the actor wrote, "We are not coming to IIFA... IIFA said our services are not required!!

"It's not me ... it's the organisers of IIFA that do not want me in Toronto... Sri Lanka was the same."

Sabbas Joseph, director of organisers Wizcraft International Entertainment, said they have only "aborted the concept of a brand ambassador for the event" but the Big B and IIFA are "inseparable".

In a statement, Joseph said, "Due to unexplainable reasons, Bachchan couldn't participate in the IIFA Weekend (in Sri Lanka) last year. Following this, IIFA aborted the concept of a brand ambassador."

He, however, said that the organisers have no plans to replace the actor.

"Bachchan's reason for non-participation is best known to him. IIFA and Bachchan are inseparable. We will continue to pursue his participation for this year too.

"Keeping in mind the huge respect that we have for Bachchan, we are not having anyone to replace him. The Bachchan family has been an intrinsic part of IIFA every year, and we have already shared with them a proposal about their participation this year too," Joseph said.

This year, Toronto will host the awards ceremony from June 23-25.

The Bachchan clan has been a prominent part of the awards that take place in different cities around the globe since 2000.

The first sign of rift with the organisers was noticed last year when Big B and his family stayed away from the event in Sri Lanka following protests by South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce over the alleged mistreatment of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Abhishek Bachchan's then upcoming release Raavan was also cited as a reason.

In Bachchan's absence, the show was managed by Salman Khan.