Actor Saif Ali Khan’s brawlgate may be a thing of the past, but the number of speculations following the incident still continue. The most recent story floating around is that the actor may have lost out on a plum endorsement deal to Indian skipper and cricketer, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Reportedly,  Dhoni has company in co-team member, Rohit Sharma who has been roped in to represent the brand.

Saif is quite a popular name when it comes to brand endorsements and commercials, therefore when the story of him being replaced surfaced, it took many by surprise, especially when it involved a brand that he’s  been associated with for quite sometime. A well-placed source from the industry reveals, “Dhoni and Saif have endorsed the brand together in the past. It is unclear if Sharma has been brought in to replace Saif or as an addition, but it is surely being speculated if Saif will continue to endorse it or not. A formal announcement will shortly be made about this.”

While a lot of them are linking this to Saif’s public outburst and the subsequent effects on his brand image, sources insist that it isn’t the case. “The brawl that Saif recently got into does not have much effect on the brands he endorses. The brand’s relationship with the actor goes beyond that. If the company has decided to add an endorser or bring in someone as a replacement, the reasons are much more than one fight.”

When contacted, a representative from the brand said that the actor is an integral part of the brand’s journey. “His persona resonates with the energy and appeal of the brand. There is no plan of replacing Saif Ali Khan as our brand ambassador,” he said.