by Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network Mumbai

MUMBAI, Nov 1: Industrialist Vijay Mallya-led private carrier Kingfisher Airlines on Wednesday announced appointing actress Deepika Padukone as its new brand ambassador.

Padukone is making her Hindi film debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in 'Om Shanti Om', to be released in November during Diwali. Incidentally, Khan is a director in Kingfisher Airlines' rival Jet Airways.

Launched in 2005, Kingfisher Airlines earlier had model Yana Gupta as its brand ambassador. Mallya said since Kingfisher began operations, it has a captured 13 per cent market share in the Indian skies. The liquor baron also owns 46 per cent in budget carrier Air Deccan, which has been rebranded as Simplifly Deccan.

Mallya, who also bought a stake in formula One team Spyker and changed its name to Force India, said he would look for an Indian driver. He would like to support and develop an Indian driver in the next three years, he said.