ITV News
Pepsi signs Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda for new youth campaign
Gen Z actors tease campaign with playful ‘Pepsi Vanity Trailer’ reveal.
MUMBAI: When the teaser promised the “biggest trailer yet”, the internet expected a movie drop. Instead, it got a fridge full of cola. Pepsi has brought Gen Z actors Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda into the Pepsi family, signalling the start of a new youth focused campaign from Pepsico India. The duo will headline the brand’s upcoming campaign, which kicked off with a social media teaser that quickly turned into a playful pop culture moment.
Ahead of the official reveal, the two actors sparked curiosity online by hinting at their “biggest trailer yet”. The twist, however, was a clever bait and switch, instead of a film preview, the reveal showcased a fully decked out Pepsi Vanity Trailer, turning the idea of a “trailer” into a literal pop culture hangout space.
The branded trailer, styled with industrial inspired interiors, signature Pepsi visuals and a fully stocked Pepsi refrigerator, was designed as a youth friendly social space blending fandom, lifestyle and the brand’s playful attitude.
Pepsi has historically positioned itself at the centre of youth culture in India, frequently collaborating with emerging talents who resonate with younger audiences. By onboarding Panday and Padda, the brand is leaning into a generation that consumes and shapes pop culture in real time through social media and digital platforms.
Pepsico India Brand Lead for Pepsi Cola Mohak Bhatia said the announcement was intentionally designed to cut through the clutter of traditional brand partnerships. “Pepsi has always partnered with gen next talent who shape youth culture rather than simply reflect it. With two of the biggest Bollywood debuts of 2025, we didn’t want a routine announcement. Flipping the idea of the ‘biggest trailer yet’ felt like a fresh way to shake up social feeds,” he said.
For Panday, the association marks a personal milestone as he begins his journey in mainstream cinema. “Pepsi has always been the heartbeat of cool in India. Being associated with the brand at this stage of my journey feels incredibly special,” he said.
Padda echoed the sentiment, describing the campaign as a natural fit. “Pepsi embodies that fearless confidence I live for. The campaign feels playful, spontaneous and full of energy,” she said.
The collaboration reflects Pepsi’s continued focus on aligning with emerging youth icons and tapping into the evolving dynamics of pop culture conversations in India.
ITV News
Libas launches Gerua workwear brand with AI-led design
100 plus SKUs under Rs 2,500; targets young professionals with online-first range.
MUMBAI: Dressing for the job may soon start with data because Libas is letting AI pick the wardrobe. Libas has entered the workwear segment with the launch of Gerua, an AI-powered brand aimed at India’s growing base of young professionals. The move marks a strategic expansion for the ultra-fast fashion label as it looks to tap into shifting workplace dressing habits.
Gerua debuts as an online-first brand with a catalogue of more than 100 SKUs, spanning button-down shirts, kurta sets and structured suits. The pricing is positioned at the accessible end of the spectrum, with kurtas starting at Rs 499, kurta sets from Rs 999, and the entire range priced below Rs 2,500.
The brand is designed to address a familiar gap workwear that balances comfort, versatility and appropriateness for modern Indian workplaces. With younger employees entering diverse, less formal work environments, the demand for clothing that transitions seamlessly through the day is on the rise.
The launch is supported by a campaign titled “Outfit Sahi Toh Sab Sahi”, fronted by Anya Singh. The films draw on everyday office moments from quiet camaraderie to unexpected workplace situations suggesting that what one wears can subtly shape confidence and presence on the job.
Gerua’s positioning leans heavily on AI-led insights, with Libas aiming to anticipate trends rather than react to them. The approach reflects a broader shift in fashion, where data is increasingly informing design, inventory and consumer targeting.
Available on Libas’ website, app and leading e-commerce platforms, the new brand signals a clear bet, as workplaces evolve, so will wardrobes and increasingly, they will be built as much by algorithms as by aesthetics.
