Indian advertising has undergone a massive transformation—moving from loud product pitches to quiet, cinematic narratives that mirror the soul of a changing nation. Whether it’s reinventing age-old myths or using satire to tackle financial literacy, the best ads today are short films in their own right.
Here are 10 Indian advertisements from the last few years that redefined the art of storytelling.
1. Jos Alukkas: “My Best Friend’s Wedding” (2026)
The Shift: Normalizing new beginnings and late-life companionship.
In a stunning subversion of the traditional “wedding jewelry” trope, this ad features stars Dulquer Salmaan and Keerthy Suresh preparing for a wedding. The twist? They aren’t the ones getting married. The groom is walking his mother (played by Suhasini Maniratnam) down the aisle to start a new chapter of her life. It moved the needle from “jewelry as a dowry/gift” to “jewelry as a witness to personal growth and courage.”
2. Hero MotoCorp: “Prayers for Safety” (2026)
The Shift: Blending ancient cultural rituals with modern utility.
Taking inspiration from the Himalayan tradition of tying Tibetan prayer flags to bikes, Hero MotoCorp reimagined these flags as portable first-aid kits containing antiseptics and gauze. By turning a spiritual symbol of protection into a literal tool for safety, the brand moved beyond selling motorcycles to becoming a silent guardian for the biking community.
3. Vinsmera Jewels: “The Mohanlal Ad” (2025)
The Shift: Breaking the gender barrier in jewelry advertising.
Jewelry ads in India have historically been the domain of women. This viral campaign featuring Malayalam superstar Mohanlal upended that by showing a man not just buying jewelry for someone else, but being genuinely, playfully enchanted by the pieces himself. It was a bold, gender-fluid moment that redefined who gets to appreciate luxury.
4. SBI Life: “A Lawyer’s Journey” (2026)
The Shift: Using public figures as internal psychological voices.
Instead of having brand ambassadors Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja sell insurance directly, this ad features them as “Jolly and Polly”—the inner voices of a lawyer contemplating a risky but ethical career move. It turned a dry financial product into a story about the psychology of reassurance, treating the ambassadors as symbolic advisors rather than mere faces on a billboard.
5. Zomato: “Before apps, there was Appa” (2025)
The Shift: Nostalgia as a bridge to modern convenience.
Released for Father’s Day, this ad film celebrated the “original” delivery and service app: the Indian father. By showcasing a dad doing everything from sourcing the best mangoes to fixing household issues, Zomato successfully positioned its technology not as a replacement for human care, but as an extension of the same protective instinct.
6. HDFC Mutual Fund: “We Are All Investors” (2025)
The Shift: Removing the “finance” from financial literacy.
This campaign was a masterclass in copywriting. It used everyday Hindi analogies to explain the concept of compounding and long-term investment without using a single piece of financial jargon. It reframed “investing” as a life skill—like raising a child or tending a garden—making it accessible to an audience that usually finds the stock market intimidating.
7. Surf Excel: “Puddle War” (2024/25)
The Shift: Evolving a legacy slogan into a story of empathy.
Building on the iconic “Daag Acche Hain” (Dirt is Good) philosophy, this film showed a brother jumping into a muddy puddle repeatedly just to make his sad sister laugh. It successfully shifted the perception of a “stain” from a sign of neglect to a badge of emotional intelligence and kindness, cementing its place as a staple of Indian emotional storytelling.
8. Ching’s Secret: “Agent Ching Attacks” (2025)
The Shift: The “Advertainment” spectacle.
Directed by Atlee and starring Ranveer Singh, this 8-minute Bollywood-style action short proved that Indian audiences will watch a “long-form” ad if it’s entertaining enough. By embracing the absurdity of “Desi Chinese” as a cinematic genre, Ching’s redefined how brands can dominate pop culture through high-octane production.
9. Stayfree: “#BetaStayfreeLeAana” (2025)
The Shift: Driving social change through uncomfortable conversations.
This campaign won top honors for its bold message on gender equality in menstrual health. By encouraging sons and husbands to be the ones who buy sanitary napkins, it aimed to dismantle the deep-seated “shame” associated with periods in Indian households. It turned a functional purchase into a revolutionary act of family support.
10. Kotak Flexicap Fund: “Vote for Growth” (2026)
The Shift: Using political satire for financial education.
Timed around election season, this ad used over-the-top political rhetoric—promises of “standing through fire and hunger”—before cutting to a humorous reality check. It cleverly used the language of public trust and “vows” to explain the necessity of picking the right fund for long-term growth, proving that wit and timing are the best tools for engagement.
