Hideaki Nakazaki, managing director of Citizen Watches India, disclosed here Monday that whenever his chauffer passed by Dravid's house in Bangalore he said he was India's national hero.

"The choosing of Mr. Dravid as a brand ambassador of Citizen Watches can be related to traffic jams in Bangalore," Nakazaki said at a press conference called to make the announcement.

"He (the driver) took another route and every time he would pass by Rahul Dravid's house, which is just about 300 metres from our office, he would say he is India's hero," he said even as Dravid, sitting on his left, listened with much amusement.

Then, said Nakazaki, he called all his salesmen and said what if he made Dravid the company's brand ambassador. They all said the sales would "double up".

"I was very interested in him after the driver repeatedly said that Dravid was our national hero, our national hero. I wanted to know his background etc.," said Nakazaki.

Eventually, the deal was struck and announced Monday - four days before Dravid leads the Indian team to the West Indies for a one-day international and Test series.

Dravid, who spoke after Nakazaki, acknowledged the contribution of the unnamed driver.

"I should start by thanking the driver first," he said with a big smile, drawing huge laughter from the gathering.