MAM
Rediffusion Y&R appoints Pramod Sharma as executive creative director
MUMBAI: Rediffusion Y&R has appointed Pramod Sharma as executive creative director, which is also his second stint with the company. He joins the agency from Soho Square (Ogilvy).
Sharma said, “I had a great stint working with Jauhari and Wadia in Everest. And given the change that is underway in Rediffusion Y&R, the opportunity was one I didn’t want to miss. Jauhari has been like a mentor to me and this feels like coming home for a second innings.”
Rediffusion Y&R president Dhunji S.Wadia added, “We welcome Sharma’s return to our agency. He understands our clients, brands and our work style. We appreciate his work ethic and calibre. And everyone can expect sparkling creative work.”
Rediffusion Y & R CCO Rahul Jauhari said, “It’s great to have him back in the team. His passion for creativity is very well balanced with his understanding of business issues. Sharma comes as a shot in the arm for the creative team in Rediffusion Y&R Mumbai.”
Sharma comes with over 15 years of work experience across agencies like Ogilvy, Dentsu, Percept-Hakuhodo, Everest and DDB Mudra.
Digital
India leads global adoption of ChatGPT Images 2.0 in first week
From anime avatars to fantasy covers, users turn AI visuals into culture
NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the largest user base for ChatGPT Images 2.0, just a week after its launch by OpenAI, underlining the country’s growing influence on global internet trends.
While the tool was introduced as an advanced image-generation upgrade within ChatGPT, Indian users are quickly reshaping its purpose. Instead of sticking to productivity-led use cases, many are embracing it as a creative playground for self-expression, storytelling and online identity.
From anime-style portraits and cinematic headshots to tarot-inspired visuals and fictional newspaper front pages, the model is being used to create highly stylised, shareable content. Features such as accurate text rendering, multilingual prompts and the ability to generate detailed visuals with minimal input have helped drive rapid adoption.
What sets the latest model apart is its ability to “think” through prompts, generating multiple outputs and adapting to context, including real-time web inputs. But the bigger story lies in how users are engaging with it.
In India, trends are already taking shape. Popular formats include dramatic studio-style lighting edits, LinkedIn-ready headshots, manga-inspired avatars, soft pastel “spring” aesthetics, AI-led fashion moodboards, paparazzi-style visuals and fantasy newspaper covers. Users are also restoring old photographs, creating tarot-style imagery and experimenting with futuristic design concepts.
Local flavour is adding another layer. Prompts such as cinematic portrait collages and Y2K-inspired romantic edits are gaining traction, blending global aesthetics with distinctly Indian internet culture.
The surge reflects a broader shift in how AI tools are being used in the country, moving beyond utility to creativity. As younger users, creators and social media enthusiasts experiment with new visual formats, AI-generated imagery is increasingly becoming part of everyday digital expression.
If early trends hold, ChatGPT Images 2.0 may not just be a tech upgrade but a cultural moment, giving millions a new visual language to play with online.
