MUMBAI: Still calling the shots, and how. Saugata Gupta is set for another two-year season at the helm of Marico Limited, with the FMCG major’s board approving his reappointment as managing director and CEO till March 2028.
Having joined the company back in 2004 as head of marketing, Gupta’s rise has been nothing short of a masterclass in brand leadership. From captaining the India business in 2007 to taking the reins as CEO in 2013 and MD in 2014, he’s led the Parachute-to-Set Wet empire through market winds with a steady hand and sharp instincts.
The boardroom decision, made on 2 May 2025, and filed with the stock exchanges the same day, means Gupta will notch up nearly 14 years as MD & CEO by the end of this renewed term, an impressive feat in an industry known for its churn.
Outside of Marico, Gupta also wears several advisory hats, serving as an independent director on the boards of Delhivery, Ashok Leyland, and formerly JSW Paints. His career before Marico included stints with ICICI Prudential and Mondelēz, lending him a marketing pedigree as rich as the brands he’s built.
With this extension, Marico’s leadership continuity seems sealed and set, as Gupta continues to script the brand’s next chapter in a fast-evolving consumer landscape.
Mumbai: JSW Paints is adding colour to India’s Independence Day celebrations with a film that captures the colours of the Indian national flag. Conceptualised by TBWAIndia, the campaign offers a fresh perspective on the Indian national flag, celebrating the diversity of its colours. The campaign has been launched across digital platforms.
While the tricolour flag is recognised for its saffron, white, and green, JSW Paints’ new campaign subtly highlights the importance of every colour symbolising the unity, pride, and achievements of the nation. The film follows school children playing during their recess. The game involves identifying objects of a specific colour collectively chosen by these children. As the game progresses, the film celebrates the colour blue through different objects in the classroom.
The playful climax is a moment of joy as the film concludes on a powerful note, celebrating the significant role of blue, which symbolises progress, and the force that keeps the nation moving forward and keeps the tricolour soaring high. With this film, JSW Paints reaffirms its commitment to delivering messages that resonate with the spirit of India, highlighting the diversity that makes our nation truly unique.
Commenting on the new Independence day campaign, JSW Paints joint MD and CEO AS Sundaresan said, “Our Independence Day campaign celebrates the colours that build our national identity. Colours that bring the country together and instill pride in what in what we do. It reflects our aim to be thoughtful and bring out the stories behind every colour.”
TBWAIndia CEO Govind Pandey said, “JSW Paints pays tribute and draws attention to the colour blue that is at the heart of our National Tiranga and is the colour that unifies us as a nation through our support of ‘team blue’.”
According to TBWAIndia CCExpO Russell Barrett, “This is the third year running that JSW Paints has produced a film celebrating Independence Day. This year we decided to disrupt in a whole new way, by celebrating the colour blue in the ‘tricolour’. The film dramatizes the colour blue in a surprising and unexpected way. Recognising it as a colour of many achievements and bringing it into focus allows us to introduce a beautiful and unique thought to this years’ Independence Day celebrations.”
Mumbai: JSW Paints, India’s leading environment-friendly paints company and part of the $23 billion JSW Group has launched a new brand campaign for its iBlok Waterstop product range. In the new “Khoobsurat Soch” campaign, Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana urges every Indian consumer to add new depth to Thinking Beautiful in order to protect their home beyond the surface coating of the walls. The new campaign will be launched across various television channels as well as digital and social platforms.
The Indian consumer is extremely conscious of decorating the walls of their homes. However, most of them ignore the essential need to waterproof their walls in order to protect their home from water leakage and dampness. The new iblok campaign showcases the way we easily block things and people in life in a quirky way and also highlights the comprehensive protection provided by the iBlok Waterstop range. It gives customers the freedom to creatively transform every corner of their homes. Conceptualised by TBWA/India, the film features brand ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana as he navigates tricky conversations and has a simple yet effective solution to block leakage from affecting the beautiful ceiling he has thoughtfully created in his new home.
According to JSW Paints joint MD & CEO AS Sundaresan, “We urge our consumers to ‘Think Beautiful’ and when they do we are always there. The insight behind the campaign is that when a customer has a ‘Khoosurat Soch’ to have a beautiful ceiling – often affected by leakage, JSW Paints iBlok range is there to ensure it is surely protected. This lets them do more at home and keep it beautiful.”
TBWAIndia CEO Govind Pandey said, “You think beautiful not just when you create something beautiful but also when you protect beautiful creations!”
TBWAIndia CCExpO Russell Barrett said, “JSW Paints has stood for disrupting the category through thoughtful innovations for years now. With this film, the brand asked the provocative question – wouldn’t it be nice if more irritants in life could be blocked just as easily as iBlok waterproofing range blocks and protect our homes from the elements? The film dramatizes that perfect world with a humorous reminder that iBlok waterproofing range of paints protects our homes from the irritants on the outside, unfortunately not for those found on the inside.”
JSW Paints’ iBlok Waterstop Range offers consumers an effective solution for waterproofing their homes with confidence. As leakage and moisture concerns are prevalent, iBlok Waterstop Range provides superior protection and longevity for your walls. The iBlok Waterstop 3K product is a revolutionary three-component Crystalline Waterproofing solution for superior waterproof coating. The range’s prowess extends across interiors, exteriors, cracks, and roofs, addressing all concerns from capillary action to crack bridging to anti-efflorescence ensuring that your walls remain pristine and protected.
Mumbai: JSW Paints, an environment-friendly paints company and part of the $23 billion JSW Group has unveiled a digital-first campaign to celebrate crickets’ colourful spirit resonating across the country. One of the most unique elements of the new campaign is the anthem, ‘Rangon Ka Khel Hai’, created to celebrate the unifying sentiment which is intrinsic to the game of cricket. The anthem, inspired by JSW Paints’ diverse colour range, adds a refreshing touch to every space, embodying the spirit of togetherness and celebration.
JSW Paints has partnered with six teams across the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchisee. This is one of the biggest brand association by JSW Paints and includes partnership with six teams including the Shahrukh Khan co-owned Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Giants, UP Warriorz, and the JSW Group’s co-owned Delhi Capitals during the current editions of WPL & IPL.
According to JSW Paints joint MD & CEO AS Sundaresan, “Cricket is a sport that’s the heartbeat of India; it’s a way of life, a celebration of colours. By partnering with renowned teams in both the IPL and WPL, we not only expand our brand presence but also wish to be integral to the sport’s legacy. The JSW Paints anthem is our tribute to the way colours come together to make Cricket Spectacular – Rango ka Khel hai, Rangon ka Mel hai.”
TBWAIndia CEO Govind Pandey said, “The Anthem celebrates the unity in passion and love for the game of cricket in the diversity of the colours of fans and players of IPL and WPL. All colours are equal. Yet another beautiful thought from JSW Paints.”
“Our anthem’s lyrics encapsulate the kaleidoscopic spirit of cricket, mirroring the vibrant range of JSW Paints. Just as cricket brings together players and fans of different teams, each having their unique colours, our diverse range of colours unites homes across India, infusing them with vibrancy and life. It’s a beautiful synergy that reflects the essence of both cricket and JSW Paints.” TBWAIndia CCExpO Russell Barrett.
Mumbai: JSW Paints, India’s leading environment-friendly paints company and part of the $23 billion JSW Group celebrates the magic of small gestures in its new Think Beautiful digital campaign. It champions that real beauty resides in our thoughts and actions.
The film, with its touching narrative, delves into how simple acts of thoughtfulness can create profound connections between individuals, transcending barriers and fostering a more compassionate world. JSW Paints believes that genuine beauty stems from within, from the depth of our thoughts and the inclusivity of our actions. This film beautifully captures that essence.
Commenting on the new Think Beautiful campaign, JSW Paints joint MD and CEO AS Sundaresan said, “Our Think Beautiful series of films show how being thoughtful can make our world much more beautiful. In this new Think Beautiful film, we bring out how today’s younger generation’s thoughtful and meaningful actions can help spread happiness around us and build a very inclusive society.”
TBWAIndia CEO Govind Pandey said, “An inclusive gesture holds profound beauty, transcending boundaries and nurturing connections.”
According to TBWAIndia CCExpO Russell Barrett, “Think Beautiful is more than a baseline, it’s a platform idea. In this film we’ve explored yet another dimension of this platform and the transformative power of inclusivity, illustrating how even the smallest acts of kindness can catalyze positive change in society.”
Mumbai: JSW Paints, India’s leading environment-friendly paints company and part of the US$ 23 billion JSW Group aims to empower Indian consumers by promoting transparency in the paint industry. The new campaign witnesses the return of the iconic character Sawalia portrayed by Alia Bhatt with a strong commitment of empowering Indian consumers with the right information while making their paint choices. JSW Paints’ visually captivating film educates customers about the benefits of their product, PIXA which offers maximum coverage. The new campaign is launched across key TV channels, digital and other platforms.
The heart of the new JSW Paints campaign revolves around the best-in-class coverage offered by Pixa. This unique product proposition is showcased through innovative elements coming live in a cinematic narrative featuring brand ambassadors Alia Bhatt and Ayushmann Khurana.
JSW Paints CEO AS Sundaresan “Transparency, consumer enlightenment, and innovation have consistently driven our brand campaigns at JSW Paints. In this latest endeavour, the spirited Sawalia, embodied by Alia Bhatt, plays a pivotal role in encouraging consumers to ask the right questions, find the right answers and get maximum benefit from their informed choice.”
Speaking about Pixa, the brand tailored for both interior and exterior surfaces in the value segment, AS Sundaresan emphasised its distinct feature – Covermax. which enables it to offer best-in-class coverage – a feature which is extremely important to customers in this category. Covermax isn’t just an attribute; it’s a comprehensive customer value proposition. It enables customers to complete the painting of their homes with minimum paint consumption. In addition, Pixa is the only brand in its category that offers over 1808 shades with the JSW Paints promise of ‘Any Colour One Price’.
TBWA/India CEO Govind Pandey added, “Given the low involvement in the category, consumers are still stuck in their expectations at the decades-old level from their paint while the latest feature of JSW Paints has raised the delivery on coverage substantially.”
Mumbai: As the country gears up to celebrate its 76th Independence Day, marking 75 years of the country’s independence from British rule, brands go all out, wearing their patriotic hearts on their logo-emblazoned sleeves in a bid to connect with their consumers. From campaigns that celebrate our nation’s diversity, to videos that convey heart-warming narratives and an awareness of financial independence, to shedding light on social issues, this year’s Independence Day communications are filled with messages of hope and empathy, along with pride.
Here are a bunch of campaigns and initiatives that stood out to us:
JSW Paints added colour to India’s Independence Day celebrations with a film that drives home the brand’s promise – “Thoughtful is Beautiful.” Conceptualised by TBWAIndia, the film captures India’s struggle and India’s originality in the same breath. Taking on a challenge that most Indian neighbourhoods face – a problem that no amount of fines, warnings, or well-intended public advisory has been able to solve. Until JSW Paints decided to change the canvas of solutions and presented a bright new answer in blazing tricolour.
Ahead of the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day, Godrej Group released #SoundsOfMakingIndia, the sequel to its Independence Day campaign from 2019, that captured all the industrial sounds that signify progress in the manufacturing ecosystem. The film narrates the story of the Godrej Group’s journey of being an integral part of our nation’s progress while integrating the different businesses of the national brand.
HDFC Mutual Fund has extended its #BarniSeAzadi campaign (first launched in 2021) to promote financial independence for women. Through this campaign, the company urges women to free their money from traditional savings methods and invest in mutual funds (MFs), so as to give their hard-earned money a chance to grow. The campaign is based on the insight that Indians have always saved money in traditional instruments like “Barnis”, pickle jars, lockers, FDs, etc.
Furthermore, HDFC Mutual Fund is organising a unique outdoor activity wherein a gigantic barni will be installed near Mumbai’s Carter Road from 13 to 15 August, where the company will take a pledge from women to not put their money in barnis anymore and use the suitable instrument to grow their money.
Robin Hood Army (RHA), a zero-funds volunteer organisation that works towards getting surplus food from restaurants and communities to the plates of those less fortunate, has teamed up with media conglomerate ABP Network for Mission75 on India’s 76th Independence Day, where they are serving 75 lakh meals across India. To start conversations about the initiative and the sad reality millions of Indians face, the NGO has partnered with a creative agency, The Minimalist.
Based on the topic that never goes out of trend, weight loss, The Minimalist conceptualised a clever, provocative film-#KhaaliThaali. The film utilises ‘Khaali Thaali’, a simple tool to depict the brutal reality of many Indians, and delivers a hard-hitting message.
The static posts were disguised to look like ads for people who have experienced transformative weight loss, only to reveal the grim reality of how they did not have a choice in the matter.
LAFZ is a culturally conscious, Halal certified brand headquartered in Singapore and a part of global FMCG conglomerate Believe PTE. To mark the occasion, the brand has released a video that’s a tribute to India’s 76th Independence. The idea was inspired by a famous Islamic saying, “Hubbul Watan Minal Iman,” which means “Loving one’s own homeland is a part of faith.” The video was conceptualised internally by the team. The film reaffirms that love for one’s homeland is unconditional and unbiased, irrespective of religion, colour, caste, and societal status.
Watch the video here –
Looking back to the unprecedented time when covid-19 outbreak brought the world to a standstill, and our defence and police forces stayed on duty, regardless of the deadly pandemic, Hamdard Laboratories launched a national campaign ‘SEHAT HAI TOH WATAN HAI’, paying homage to their valiance. As the eight-month-long campaign launched on 26 January approaches its culmination on India’s 76th Independence, Hamdard celebrated the health of India with multiple activities across its wellness centres from 10 – 14 August 2022. The brand has conducted 75 health camps and touched more than 15,000 lives of brave heroes.
Watching patriotic movies and catching the parade on TV never gets old on Independence Day, but why not try out something new this time—like OTT listening? On the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Pocket FM brings to you a special audiobook collection to celebrate 75 years of independence and feel your pride and honour for the nation.
Here’s a list of the top five audiobooks to share with your kin on the occasion: Amar Krantiweer Chandra Shekhar Azad – get to know the courageous tale of the freedom fighter during the Indian Independence movement, My Experiments With Truth-In this audiobook, Mahatma Gandhi has given reminiscences of his childhood, relations with his wife and parents, experiences at school, his study tour to London, his journey to South Africa, experiences of colour prejudice, and his quest for dharma, Jhansi Ki Rani- The audiobook speaks about how the Queen had to repeatedly face gruelling challenges but still drew strength from her adversity. Annihilation of Caste – Listen to this audiobook to hear B.R Ambedkar’s searing takedown of the caste system, Why Am I An Atheist – an essay written by Indian revolutionary Bhagat Singh in 1930 in Lahore Central Jail. Tune into this book and understand why the freedom fighter was an atheist.
Finally, is it ever a celebration without having an equivalent one in the metaverse? As we are all set to commemorate India’s 76th Independence Day, digital solutions provider Kiya.ai will be celebrating the occasion in the metaverse. In what the brand claims to be a ‘first-of-its-kind’ initiative, Kiya.ai will celebrate Azadi Kaa Amrit Mahotsav with Har Ghar Tiranga on Bharatmeta, a dedicated zone of Kiyaverse, “India’s first metaverse” on www.bharatmeta.in.
A virtual experience in Bharatmeta allows visitors to observe the Tricolour hoisted on a virtual monument and explore the zone while listening to patriotic songs.
Mumbai: JSW Paints released a new ad film titled “Think Beautiful” on Friday to commemorate India’s 75th Independence Day. The film drives home the brand’s promise—”Thoughtful is Beautiful.”
The film was conceptualised by TBWAIndia. It captures India’s struggle and originality in the same breath.
Always putting forth interesting takes on what beautiful truly means, JSW Paints seems to say real beauty is in our thoughts and it shows in the way a person, a home, a community, and a nation behave.
The new film takes “Think Beautiful” out of the four walls of a home and into the neighbourhood. It takes a leap and makes a larger point. The power that beautiful thoughts have to make our nation beautiful Playing off a relatable event, the film finds an ingenious twist. One that suits the mega occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day and puts a smile on your face.
This is a challenge that every neighbourhood in India faces. A problem that no amount of fines, warnings, or well-meaning public advisories has been able to solve. Until JSW Paints decided to modify the canvas and present a bold new answer in blazing tricolour.
Speaking about the new film, JSW Paints chief marketing officer Anuradha Bosesaid, “Since our launch, we have been standing by the clarion call to ‘Think Beautiful’. Hence, we have ensured that every aspect of the JSW Paints brand has a never done before quality and a promise to deliver true value to our consumers. It appears everywhere-from our product innovations to price, community and marketing interventions.”
Commenting on the widespread resonance of the work and its timing, TBWAIndia CEO Govind Pandey said, “As India stands today at the precipice of the future, we are realising that only thinking good is not enough. Beautiful thoughts that translate into beautiful deeds are what truly make a meaningful difference. Our progressive stories for JSW Paints are a reflection of this realisation and signal our commitment to creating a thoughtful and beautiful India. There is no better time to highlight how individual acts contribute to a beautiful nation than the 75th Independence Day of the country.”
Speaking about the inception of the idea, TBWAIndia managing partner creative Parixit Bhattacharya said, “When a brand stands for beautiful thoughts, it becomes easy to imagine a beautiful world. We see our new film for JSW Paints as more than a film. It hints at a practical solution to a nagging problem nationwide. Here’s to making India more beautiful, one wall at a time.”
Mumbai: JSW Group’s environment-friendly paints company JSW Paints on Tuesday announced a new brand initiative called ‘Sundar Bharat’ to celebrate every Indian Olympic athlete, in a unique way. According to the initiative, every Indian athlete of any sporting discipline who has represented India at the Olympic games since 1947 will be offered free painting of their homes by the company.
JSW Paints is offering the Indian Olympic athletes or their kin its entire portfolio of 1808 water-based colours under this initiative and JSW has kept the pledge mechanism hassle-free, said the company in a press statement. “In order to avail the offer, an eligible athlete must call the JSW Paints customer care number 1800-121-5797,” it added.
“At JSW Group, we always believe in delivering meaningful value to our consumers and forge deep bonds with our stakeholders,” said JSW Paints MD, Parth Jindal. “We try to achieve this by banking upon the JSW experience, a product of thousand gestures, to make life beautiful for our esteemed consumers. Sundar Bharat is one such gesture from JSW Paints.”
Mumbai: It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was the most looked-forward to, most-talked-about and the most nostalgia-generating event all of last week, on social media. After a wait of more than a decade and a half, diehard fans, the world over, of the most popular sitcom in television history finally got to see their six F.R.I.E.N.D.S get back together at Central Perk – albeit just for a little more than an hour and a half.
That was enough to spawn a million memes and dominate endless Instagram stories and conversations, with many declaring this was their best one hour 40 minutes of 2021 so far!
Then why would brands be left behind?
So, here goes a pick of some of the creatives for the FRIENDS: The Reunion that celebrated the friendship and got the nostalgia on spot. Could we be more excited!
ZEE5
The OTT platform which streamed the special episode in India, very usefully came up with some creative excuses we could use to bunk office to watch the reunion episode the moment it was launched- 12.32 pm to be precise! Could we be more grateful?
“The world will be on a BREAK tomorrow. Which excuse will you use to watch the #FriendsReunionOnZEE5 at 12:32 pm with the rest of the world?”
The Paint brand paid tribute to the famed couch in the coffee shop where the group of six used to hang out: “Can we be… any more excited to embrace every colour of this reunion!”
The Insurance brand creatively used the words of the familiar theme song ‘I’ll Be There For You’ and the backdrop behind the famous series to promote its service: “People come and go but true F.R.I.E.N.D.S will always stick around, even in the toughest situation. Let Kotak Life Insurance be that friend of yours.”
