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Sun Pharma launches #SecondBirthDate 2.0 initiative with Sushmita Sen
Mumbai: Continuing its inspiring, award-winning initiative to celebrate and honour the invaluable contributions of doctors in our lives, Sun Pharma, India’s largest pharmaceutical company unveiled its #SecondBirthDate 2.0 campaign on National Doctors’ Day. This year’s initiative features acclaimed actress, Sushmita Sen, who has joined the movement to express her heartfelt gratitude to the real-life heroes who give us a second chance at life.
Building on the success of last year’s campaign featuring Rishabh Pant and Mahima Chaudhry, #SecondBirthDate returns with an even greater impact this year. This year, Sushmita Sen led the charge by updating her social media handle with her Second Birth Date on June 28, 2024 and today she shared her second birth certificate with her doctors.
Commenting on the initiative, Sushmita Sen, said, “I am glad to be a part of this Doctors’ Day initiative by Sun Pharma. Today is a day of gratitude. My doctors have given me a second chance at life, and I want to thank them from the top, middle and bottom of my heart?.”
Sun Pharma CEO – India business Kirti Ganorkar said, “Doctors are our real-life heroes who work tirelessly to save lives, providing hope to millions. With this campaign, we want to celebrate these incredible individuals and shine a light on their selfless service. This initiative is a heartfelt thank you to doctors for their relentless dedication and devotion to improving lives.”
The campaign is garnering interest from people across India, from all walks of life, including several celebrities and influencers, who have joined the movement by updating their Second Birth Date and sharing their personal stories. Film actor, Manisha Koirala, travel content creator, Ankita Kumar and gaming influencer, Sujan Mistri have all come forward to express gratitude to the doctors who have profoundly impacted their lives.
Regarding the campaign concept, & Ogilvy India executive creative director Rohit Devgun and group creative director Arun Ganesh said, “We can never thank doctors enough for all that they do. Last year’s success encouraged us to build #SecondBirthDate into a bigger, more enduring platform – one where more people come forward and express their heartfelt gratitude to doctors. This year we flagged off this initiative by Sun Pharma with Sushmita Sen’s story”
Wavemaker India chief client officer & office head – West, North & East Shekhar Banerjee said, “The #SecondBirthDate 2.0 initiative carries on the tradition of celebrating the selfless contributions of doctors in our lives. This year’s involvement of Sushmita Sen amplifies some real-life stories of gratitude and hope that doctors bring to countless individuals. It’s an extraordinaire initiative that casts a light on the invaluable role of doctors in our society. We are incredibly proud to be a part of such a campaign and contribute to the same.”
Visit www.secondbirthdate.com to download and send a personalised certificate of gratitude to your doctor.
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From mega bills to spontaneous dates: Swiggy Dineout Valentine’s report
From mega bills to last-minute plans, India celebrated love with flair
MUMBAI: Valentine’s Day 2026 was a feast for the senses and wallets alike, according to Swiggy Dineout. India’s on-demand dining platform revealed how the nation celebrated romance with big gestures, lively nights out, and plenty of spontaneous bookings.
Metropolitan hubs continued to rule the roost with Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad seeing the most reservations. Emerging cities aren’t far behind, with Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Chandigarh joining the party. Growth was particularly striking in Surat (up 180 per cent), Vadodara (155 per cent) and Bhubaneswar (145.5 per cent) compared with the previous Saturday.
Mumbai stole the headlines with a single customer splashing out Rs 130,155 – the highest bill in the country. The city also hosted the largest single group booking, with 30 diners coming together to celebrate in style. Most Valentine’s transactions took place between 10pm and 11pm, proving love, and hunger, strike late.
Mumbai stole the spotlight with a mega-spender whose bill made everyone else blush, while savvy diners were cashing in on discounts, including a Pune customer saving 60% and another in Bengaluru saving 50 per cent. Fine dining was on fire, with bookings up 121 per cent year-on-year, though pubs, bars, and lounges remained the crowd favourites, accounting for 30.6 per cent of all reservations. Last-minute romance was the order of the day, with 66 per cent of diners booking within two hours of heading out. Together, India saved over Rs 6 crore, proving that love can be grand, yet thrifty.
Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi led the premium dining rush, showing a growing appetite for curated, high-end experiences. Meanwhile, spontaneous bookings reinforced modern lifestyles, where convenience and instant gratification rule the day.
Whether it was big spends, huge groups, or a last-minute romantic dash, Valentine’s Day 2026 proved love and dining go hand in hand – and sometimes, they go all out.
