Brands
ITC Vivel ropes in Kriti Sanon as its new Brand Face
MUMBAI: ITC’s leading personal care brand, Vivel has roped in popular Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon as its brand ambassador. Vivel with its philosophy of ‘Ab Samjhauta Nahin’ encourages women to not compromise with their choices and their dreams. Kriti embodies the brand persona and is a leading role model for young women.
Vivel announces its association with Kriti Sanon with a campaign for its cooling portfolio of soaps and bodywashes. With ingredients like Mint and Cucumber, Vivel promises a refreshing bathing experience with the onset of summer.
Kriti as the brand ambassador for Vivel encourages women to make their own choices and live a life of no compromise. She is self-made and continually takes up roles that challenges the status quo and the perception of women in society. This is what makes her an ideal Vivel Woman.
The film conceptualised by Brand David, opens in a busy traffic jam with Kriti as the Traffic Police officer in the sweltering summer heat. Kriti portrays the progressive and confident woman who refuses to succumb to everyday sexist jibes, voicing a befitting quick comeback, while she continues to keep her cool. The brand message goes beyond beauty to address attitude and behaviour towards women and personifies a nuanced perspective of self-confidence that inspires the protagonist to voice her opinion and handle the situation with wit.
Kriti Sanon, shared her excitement on being the new face of Vivel, “I am excited and proud to be associated with leading personal care brand ITC Vivel and look forward to joining the brand’s strong purpose-driven journey through its initiative Ab Samjhauta Nahin. The brand’s core narrative of being more than just a beauty discourse makes it extremely fulfilling for me to associate myself with both the product and the philosophy. Vivel’s beauty is real and uncompromising and hence being the Vivel woman comes very naturally to me. As a woman with a voice, I have achieved my dreams through my uncompromising spirit. It indeed is great that I get to be associated with brand that strives to help young women find their voice & inspire them to say ‘Ab Samjhauta Nahin’.”
Speaking on the occasion, ITC Limited chief executive, personal care products business Sameer Satpathy said, “Kriti is one of the most dynamic new age Bollywood actors. Vivel with its philosophy of Ab Samjhauta Nahin seeks to inspire women to question the limits they’ve been conditioned into accepting, challenge status quo and therefore enrich their lives with confidence and fulfilment.”
The Vivel Cool Mint variant offers a refreshing aroma with a long-lasting fragrance, and offers a minty freshness that hydrating the skin while getting rid of the dirt and grime that settles in, causing build up through the course of the day.
Brands
6 in 10 face bias, 58 per cent delay care: India’s LGBTQIA+ health crisis
Study highlights bias in care and unsafe spaces shaping everyday choices
MUMBAI: A significant number of LGBTQIA+ women in India are putting off essential healthcare, with 58 per cent reporting delays or avoidance due to discrimination, according to a new study. The figure is the highest among five countries surveyed, pointing to deep-rooted systemic challenges.
The research, conducted by Kantar in partnership with DIVA Charitable Trust and The Curve Foundation, draws insights from over 3,200 LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary individuals globally. Released around Lesbian Visibility Week, the findings highlight how bias continues to shape access to care.
In India, 60 per cent of respondents said they had faced discrimination in healthcare settings, often feeling dismissed or not taken seriously by providers. This has led many to delay seeking treatment, underscoring how trust deficits in the system directly impact health decisions.
The study also reflects broader social realities. Instances of verbal or physical abuse were commonly reported across platforms such as social media, public transport and social venues, reinforcing a persistent sense of insecurity in everyday life.
At the same time, expectations from brands are evolving. In India, 78 per cent of respondents believe companies should actively contribute to advancing diversity and inclusion, signalling a growing demand for corporate accountability.
Kantar India HR head Mridul Shekhar said, “LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people remain underrepresented and overlooked. Their experiences are shaped by uneven access to care and systems not designed with them in mind. When people are invisible in data, they become invisible in decision-making.”
DIVA Charitable Trust executive director Lady Phyll added, “When people delay healthcare because they fear discrimination, we are no longer talking about symbolic inclusion. These are life decisions driven by the need to feel safe.”
The findings underline a stark reality. While awareness around inclusion is growing, bridging the gap between intent and lived experience remains an urgent priority.
