Hit or Miss: The week in ads
From Tota's startup jargon to SRK's Hyundai homecoming, this week's ads prove substance still beats style, even when the style is dazzling
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Published: Jul 25, 2026 8:50 AM | 6 min read
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- This week's advertising campaigns featured a blend of nostalgia, humor, and purpose, with brands focusing on storytelling rather than direct selling.
- Shark Tank India's "#DontBeATota" campaign humorously critiques startup jargon, emphasizing the importance of substance in entrepreneurship.
- Hyundai celebrated its 30-year presence in India with a campaign featuring CEO Tarun Garg and Shah Rukh Khan, highlighting the brand's legacy and connection with consumers.
- Other notable campaigns included GIVA's redefinition of siblinghood for Raksha Bandhan, Berger Paints' focus on human resilience, and Fenty Skin's comedic promotion featuring Rihanna and A$AP Rocky.
This week's advertising slate served up a mix of nostalgia, purpose and pure playfulness, with brands leaning into storytelling that goes beyond the obvious sell.
Shark Tank India took a cheeky jab at buzzword-heavy entrepreneurship with its Tota campaign, while Hyundai marked three decades in India by pairing its CEO with Shah Rukh Khan in a film built on legacy and trust. GIVA widened the definition of family for Raksha Bandhan, and Berger Paints reimagined its brand purpose through the lens of human resilience. Pond's brought back a cult classic catchphrase for a new generation, and POP UPI dreamed up a "perfect world" to sell everyday rewards. Sunfeast paired comedy with celebrity charm, Fenty Skin turned skincare into a sketch starring Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, and Doritos teamed up with Mercedes F1 for a pit-stop worthy stunt.
Here's a look at the best of the week:
Shark Tank India - “Don’t Be A Tota”
Shark Tank India Season 6 has launched its #DontBeATota campaign to challenge the growing obsession with startup jargon over real entrepreneurship. Created by The Script Room, the campaign introduces Tota, a parrot who confidently throws around buzzwords like valuation, burn rate and EBITDA, believing that's enough to impress investors. Through humour, the campaign reminds aspiring founders that building a successful business requires conviction, execution, resilience and a deep understanding of the fundamentals—not just speaking the language of startups. The initiative coincides with registrations opening for Season 6 and reinforces the show's focus on substance over style.
https://www.instagram.com/
Hyundai - “Back to where it all began… 3 decades later”
Hyundai Motor India's latest campaign brings together CEO Tarun Garg and brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan to celebrate the company's 30-year journey in India. The film moves beyond a traditional celebrity endorsement by pairing the company's leadership with its most recognisable face, reflecting Hyundai's legacy of trust, innovation and customer connection. Blending nostalgia with a forward-looking vision, the campaign highlights Hyundai's evolution from the iconic Santro era to its current mobility portfolio, reinforcing the brand's long-standing relationship with Indian consumers.
GIVA - “Celebrate every sibling who fills your life with love”
GIVA's Raksha Bandhan campaign, "Furever Sibling," starring brand ambassador Kriti Sanon, celebrates the evolving definition of siblinghood by including pets as cherished family members. The digital film shows Kriti tying a rakhi to her brother before extending the gesture to their furry companion, highlighting the unconditional bond shared with pets. The campaign also introduces GIVA's new Pet Collection, featuring personalised silver pet tag charms and accessories, while reinforcing the brand's message that every meaningful relationship—whether by birth or by paw—deserves to be celebrated.
Berger Paints - “Rang Bana Rahe”
Berger Paints has unveiled "Rang Bana Rahe," a new brand platform and refreshed identity that shifts the conversation from protecting paint to celebrating the resilience of people. Developed by Sideways Consulting, the campaign introduces Khushrangi, a character whose colours remain vibrant despite life's challenges, drawing a parallel between Berger's protective coatings and the human spirit. Moving beyond product performance, the campaign positions colour as a symbol of individuality, optimism and perseverance, marking a more emotional, purpose-led direction for the brand's communication.
Ponds - “Googly Woogly Woosh”
Pond's has revived its iconic "Googly Woogly Woosh" campaign to promote its Super Light Gel moisturiser, reintroducing one of Indian advertising's most memorable catchphrases for a new generation. Created by Ogilvy India, the campaign reimagines the nostalgic phrase as a symbol of soft, hydrated, and bouncy skin through a new film set in a boys' hostel, complemented by digital-first episodes. By blending emotional recall with contemporary storytelling, the campaign highlights the product's lightweight, long-lasting hydration while connecting with both longtime fans and younger consumers discovering the slogan for the first time.
https://www.instagram.com/
Pop UPI - “In a perfect world...”
POP has unveiled its maiden brand campaign, "In a Perfect World," positioning rewards as the next frontier in everyday UPI payments. Created by BANG BANG Mediacorp, the campaign imagines a whimsical world where life's little inconveniences turn into unexpected wins, before revealing that while perfection may be a fantasy, earning POPcoins on every UPI payment is not. Aimed at Gen Z users, the campaign shifts the conversation beyond seamless digital transactions to meaningful, everyday rewards, reinforcing POP's proposition of making every payment more valuable.
Sunfeast - “Chutki vs Miss World”
Sunfeast Fantastik's latest campaign brings together Gaurav Gera and Manushi Chhillar to introduce its new Strawberry Cheesecake flavour through a playful, Gen Z-focused film. Created by a Simple agency, the campaign uses Gera's signature comic timing and Chhillar's charm to turn a light-hearted exchange into a celebration of indulgence, positioning the new variant as an irresistible treat. Blending humour, celebrity appeal and a contemporary digital-first narrative, the campaign reinforces Sunfeast Fantastik's "Make Everyday Fantastik" proposition while targeting young snack lovers.
https://www.instagram.com/
Fenty Beauty - “A$AP Rocky x Fenty Skin”
Fenty Skin's latest campaign stars real-life couple Rihanna and A$AP Rocky in a humorous beauty salon sketch that promotes the brand's skincare essentials through comedy. Playing a charismatic street salesman, Rocky pitches Fenty Skin's Hydra Vizor SPF Moisturiser and Lux Balm, while cleverly tying the campaign to his latest album, Don't Be Dumb, with the punchline, "Don't Be Dumb, Use SPF." Blending celebrity chemistry, humour and product education, the campaign reinforces the importance of daily sun protection while showcasing Fenty Skin's playful, inclusive brand personality.
https://www.instagram.com/
Doritos x Mercedes - “Fastest Doritos Changeover in F1 History”
Doritos partnered with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team for the "Fastest Doritos Changeover" campaign, featuring drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. The stunt playfully reimagines Formula One's iconic high-speed pit stops by replacing a tyre change with an ultra-fast Doritos bag swap. Blending humour with the sport's trademark speed and precision, the campaign taps into fans' love for F1 while reinforcing Doritos' "Taste the Thrill" brand platform. The light-hearted activation highlights the shared excitement of racing and snacking, turning an everyday product exchange into a memorable motorsport-inspired spectacle.
https://www.instagram.com/
Shark Tank India took a cheeky jab at buzzword-heavy entrepreneurship with its Tota campaign, while Hyundai marked three decades in India by pairing its CEO with Shah Rukh Khan in a film built on legacy and trust. GIVA widened the definition of family for Raksha Bandhan, and Berger Paints reimagined its brand purpose through the lens of human resilience. Pond's brought back a cult classic catchphrase for a new generation, and POP UPI dreamed up a "perfect world" to sell everyday rewards. Sunfeast paired comedy with celebrity charm, Fenty Skin turned skincare into a sketch starring Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, and Doritos teamed up with Mercedes F1 for a pit-stop worthy stunt.
Here's a look at the best of the week:
Shark Tank India - “Don’t Be A Tota”
Shark Tank India Season 6 has launched its #DontBeATota campaign to challenge the growing obsession with startup jargon over real entrepreneurship. Created by The Script Room, the campaign introduces Tota, a parrot who confidently throws around buzzwords like valuation, burn rate and EBITDA, believing that's enough to impress investors. Through humour, the campaign reminds aspiring founders that building a successful business requires conviction, execution, resilience and a deep understanding of the fundamentals—not just speaking the language of startups. The initiative coincides with registrations opening for Season 6 and reinforces the show's focus on substance over style.
https://www.instagram.com/
Hyundai - “Back to where it all began… 3 decades later”
Hyundai Motor India's latest campaign brings together CEO Tarun Garg and brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan to celebrate the company's 30-year journey in India. The film moves beyond a traditional celebrity endorsement by pairing the company's leadership with its most recognisable face, reflecting Hyundai's legacy of trust, innovation and customer connection. Blending nostalgia with a forward-looking vision, the campaign highlights Hyundai's evolution from the iconic Santro era to its current mobility portfolio, reinforcing the brand's long-standing relationship with Indian consumers.
GIVA - “Celebrate every sibling who fills your life with love”
GIVA's Raksha Bandhan campaign, "Furever Sibling," starring brand ambassador Kriti Sanon, celebrates the evolving definition of siblinghood by including pets as cherished family members. The digital film shows Kriti tying a rakhi to her brother before extending the gesture to their furry companion, highlighting the unconditional bond shared with pets. The campaign also introduces GIVA's new Pet Collection, featuring personalised silver pet tag charms and accessories, while reinforcing the brand's message that every meaningful relationship—whether by birth or by paw—deserves to be celebrated.
Berger Paints - “Rang Bana Rahe”
Berger Paints has unveiled "Rang Bana Rahe," a new brand platform and refreshed identity that shifts the conversation from protecting paint to celebrating the resilience of people. Developed by Sideways Consulting, the campaign introduces Khushrangi, a character whose colours remain vibrant despite life's challenges, drawing a parallel between Berger's protective coatings and the human spirit. Moving beyond product performance, the campaign positions colour as a symbol of individuality, optimism and perseverance, marking a more emotional, purpose-led direction for the brand's communication.
Ponds - “Googly Woogly Woosh”
Pond's has revived its iconic "Googly Woogly Woosh" campaign to promote its Super Light Gel moisturiser, reintroducing one of Indian advertising's most memorable catchphrases for a new generation. Created by Ogilvy India, the campaign reimagines the nostalgic phrase as a symbol of soft, hydrated, and bouncy skin through a new film set in a boys' hostel, complemented by digital-first episodes. By blending emotional recall with contemporary storytelling, the campaign highlights the product's lightweight, long-lasting hydration while connecting with both longtime fans and younger consumers discovering the slogan for the first time.
https://www.instagram.com/
Pop UPI - “In a perfect world...”
POP has unveiled its maiden brand campaign, "In a Perfect World," positioning rewards as the next frontier in everyday UPI payments. Created by BANG BANG Mediacorp, the campaign imagines a whimsical world where life's little inconveniences turn into unexpected wins, before revealing that while perfection may be a fantasy, earning POPcoins on every UPI payment is not. Aimed at Gen Z users, the campaign shifts the conversation beyond seamless digital transactions to meaningful, everyday rewards, reinforcing POP's proposition of making every payment more valuable.
Sunfeast - “Chutki vs Miss World”
Sunfeast Fantastik's latest campaign brings together Gaurav Gera and Manushi Chhillar to introduce its new Strawberry Cheesecake flavour through a playful, Gen Z-focused film. Created by a Simple agency, the campaign uses Gera's signature comic timing and Chhillar's charm to turn a light-hearted exchange into a celebration of indulgence, positioning the new variant as an irresistible treat. Blending humour, celebrity appeal and a contemporary digital-first narrative, the campaign reinforces Sunfeast Fantastik's "Make Everyday Fantastik" proposition while targeting young snack lovers.
https://www.instagram.com/
Fenty Beauty - “A$AP Rocky x Fenty Skin”
Fenty Skin's latest campaign stars real-life couple Rihanna and A$AP Rocky in a humorous beauty salon sketch that promotes the brand's skincare essentials through comedy. Playing a charismatic street salesman, Rocky pitches Fenty Skin's Hydra Vizor SPF Moisturiser and Lux Balm, while cleverly tying the campaign to his latest album, Don't Be Dumb, with the punchline, "Don't Be Dumb, Use SPF." Blending celebrity chemistry, humour and product education, the campaign reinforces the importance of daily sun protection while showcasing Fenty Skin's playful, inclusive brand personality.
https://www.instagram.com/
Doritos x Mercedes - “Fastest Doritos Changeover in F1 History”
Doritos partnered with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team for the "Fastest Doritos Changeover" campaign, featuring drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. The stunt playfully reimagines Formula One's iconic high-speed pit stops by replacing a tyre change with an ultra-fast Doritos bag swap. Blending humour with the sport's trademark speed and precision, the campaign taps into fans' love for F1 while reinforcing Doritos' "Taste the Thrill" brand platform. The light-hearted activation highlights the shared excitement of racing and snacking, turning an everyday product exchange into a memorable motorsport-inspired spectacle.
https://www.instagram.com/
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