In fact, RK has just renewed his contract for another two years
Upala KBR (DNA; June 21, 2016)

There are hundreds of brands and only a handful of actors. So, every time a contract ends, there’s a good chance that a celebrity brand ambassador can be replaced. Or he can negotiate a better deal for himself and renew the contract. It all depends on the actor’s current brand value.

Rumour has it!
Sometimes, friends replace each other. Right now, the grapevine has it that an international F&B (foods and beverages) major is looking to replace Ranbir Kapoor with his buddy Varun Dhawan. The brand in question was shocked to read these unsubstantiated rumours.

Unwritten rule
Our source tells us, “Varun was never in consideration for this particular potato chips brand. RK renewed his contract with them till 2018, a few months ago for Rs 20 crore, so the rumour might have been spread by VD’s brand management team. In fact, this brand would never approach Varun because he endorses a fruit juice for their rival. And everyone in the ad world knows that it’s an unwritten company policy that one doesn’t engage stars who endorses the other’s brands.”

Changes and constants
According to the source, while Ranbir’s endorsement fee has remained constant in the last year-and-a-half, Varun’s have almost tripled because of his string of hits. “From Rs 50 lakh two years ago, today Varun charges Rs 2.5-3 crore a year. For the chips ad, RK got Rs 10 crore a year. Also, despite his last couple of films not doing so well at the box-office, Ranbir is India’s second-highest paid actor after Aamir, as far as endorsements go.”