Brands
DDB MudraMax throws India’s first ever voters party
MUMBAI: While Mumbai voted on 24 April, DDB MudraMax and Thincquisitive Foundation celebrated democracy, by hosting India’s first ever Voters Party at Hard Rock Cafe, Andheri, Mumbai.
Being a Voters party, only people who had voted, by showing proof of the Black Dot, could enter. The hosts screened the IPL match and this was followed by live performances by Anushka Manchanda, Spud in the Box and Vasuda Sharma.
Operation Black Dots objective was to bring a shift in the way politics is looked at in India and by making it more engaging and inclusive. Open hangout sessions were held, at regular intervals with eminent political leaders, journalists and economists such as Priya Dutt, Ajit Ranade, Aarthi Saathe, Mahrukh Inayet, Sanjay Jha, Milind Deora, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, where a various number of topics were discussed such as Section 377, Political Ideologies, Money spent on political campaigns etc.
The team also got the youth interested and tuned in, by visiting most colleges across Mumbai, and helping students get their voters id and also answer all queries they had regarding any subject. Apart from this, Vishal Dadlani, Purab Kohli, VJ Jose and Anushka Manchanda were roped in to spread the word and get as many youngsters to vote by tweeting and posting messages about #OBDIndia on their Twitter and Facebook pages.
On 23 April, Tata Nano Twist helped promote the initiative by supplying six cars and four bikes that went all around the city, encouraging people to vote, the next day. The team also took to outdoor for the final leg, by asking Sachin Tendulkar and Shah Rukh Khan where they’re going to be on voting day.
Commenting on the success of the campaign, Operation Black Dot founder and DDB Mudra Group chief youth marketer Samyak Chakrabarty said, “Thorough this campaign, not only is this an incentive for the disinterested voters to go out and vote, but is an excellent way for them to celebrate their vote and consequently democracy. From getting MPs on bean bags to breaking down complex political concepts into quick fun videos, we did it all to ensure our TG finds such discourse interesting and engaging. Our team of 100+ volunteers who were mainly students themselves did a great job in engaging their peer groups for this cause.”
Brands
Zomato film highlights bias faced by women delivery partners
International Women’s Day campaign shines light on everyday stereotypes
MUMBAI: A food delivery may arrive in minutes, but the journey behind it can still carry a few outdated assumptions. This International Women’s Day, Zomato has released a new brand film that shines a light on the subtle but familiar biases faced by women delivery partners during their daily shifts. The campaign nudges viewers to rethink a simple idea that still surprises many people: a delivery partner’s ability has nothing to do with gender.
Instead of focusing on training for delivery partners, the film flips the perspective and gently turns the mirror towards society. Through a series of everyday moments, from collecting orders at restaurants to arriving at a customer’s doorstep, women delivery partners encounter reactions that many recognise all too well. Curious glances, surprised expressions and questions that hint at disbelief follow them along the route.
In a playful cinematic twist, the delivery partners break the fourth wall to address these reactions directly, offering light-hearted responses that quietly challenge the stereotypes.
The campaign also reflects a broader shift in India’s gig economy. As of February 2026, Zomato has more than 3,500 monthly active women delivery partners who collectively deliver over five lakh orders every month.
Eternal chief sustainability officer anjalli ravi kumar said building an inclusive platform economy requires both opportunity and acceptance. She said that as more women step into roles across urban last-mile logistics, the ecosystem around them must evolve to ensure they can work with confidence and dignity.
She added that enabling women to participate safely and comfortably in such roles is essential if India is to move closer to the goal of 70 per cent female workforce participation by 2047 under the broader vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Alongside the campaign, Zomato has been strengthening safety measures for women delivery partners. The company offers a 24 by 7 SOS emergency support system available in more than 800 cities, connecting partners to ambulance services, police and an internal response team when needed.
Women delivery partners also have the option to avoid certain delivery locations between 7 pm and 5 am if they feel unsafe. In addition, city-specific WhatsApp support groups in the top seven cities help women partners communicate easily, raise concerns and seek peer support.
For deliveries to hotels, lodges or guest houses, women partners can complete the order at the reception instead of going up to individual rooms. The delivery partner app also allows them to flag difficult or unsafe areas as black zones. More than 300 such zones have already been identified and temporarily marked unserviceable.
Through the film and these initiatives, Zomato hopes to spark a broader conversation about inclusion in the gig economy, one delivery at a time.
