Brands
Leica India introduces chef Ranveer Brar as brand ambassador
Mumbai: Leica India introduces Chef Ranveer Brar as its brand ambassador during an exclusive event at Taj Lands End, Bandra, Mumbai. The event also marks the launch of Leica’s latest camera, the Q3 43. This collaboration between the luxury camera brand and the celebrated chef highlights their shared passion for storytelling and creativity, both in the culinary world and through photography.
Chef Ranveer Brar, known for his ability to tell stories through food, becomes the face of Leica India, symbolising the seamless blend of culinary and visual arts. Brar’s love for photography and Leica’s precision-driven craftsmanship align perfectly, as both are rooted in authenticity and detail. His partnership with the brand aims to inspire a broader audience, encouraging the appreciation of both visual and culinary arts.
Leica’s new Q3 43, which was unveiled at the event, continues the brand’s legacy of innovation. Priced at Rs 6,55,000, the camera features the legendary APO-Summicron 43 f/2 ASPH. lens, known for delivering distortion-free, sharp, and high-contrast images in all lighting conditions. With a tiltable 3-inch high-resolution touchscreen, 8K video capabilities, and its iconic grey leather exterior, the Leica Q3 43 represents the pinnacle of German craftsmanship.
Commenting on his new role, Ranveer Brar said, “One may not realise it, but culinary and visual arts share an intrinsic quality—both are means of telling stories and preserving the essence of one’s experiences. Whether I am cooking or capturing photographs, my creative process is rooted in honesty and authenticity. And these values are reflected in Leica as a brand. My journey with Leica is as old as my fascination with visual storytelling. Its cameras allow me to capture images with remarkable authenticity and emotional depth. I am thrilled to partner with a brand that shares my creative vision!”
Leica Camera Asia Pacific, managing director, Sunil Kaul expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, “In a culturally rich country like India, we wanted to connect with audiences through a language they know best – food and their favourite chef, Chef Ranveer Brar. His passion for food and love for Leica are in alignment as Chef Ranveer dedicates attention to detail in his creations as to his appreciation of the hand-crafted products manufactured by Leica. Ranveer’s appreciation for visual storytelling allows him to connect and inspire others through photography, making him the perfect new family member for Leica India. We are excited to partner with him and take a step further in our commitment to advancing the art of photography in the land of diversity.”
He added, “The launch of the Leica Q3 43 at the event marks another milestone in our dedication to pushing boundaries and nurturing a global community of visual artists. With its 43mm focal length, this camera captures moments just as the human eye sees them, preserving the authenticity and emotion of each scene in the most natural and unadulterated way. We are excited to see how this new innovation inspires the next generation of photographers to push creative boundaries and explore new ways of seeing the world.”
The event featured prominent personalities like Latika Nath, Ashraf Abbas, Amit Asher, Larissa D’sa, Siddharth Kerkar, and Sooni Taraporevala, all of whom experienced Leica’s unmatched quality firsthand.
Brands
Godrej clarifies ‘GI’ identifier after logo similarity debate
Says GI is not a logo, will not replace Godrej signature across products.
MUMBAI: In a branding storm where shapes did the talking, Godrej is now spelling things out. Godrej Industries Group (GIG) has issued a clarification on its newly introduced ‘GI’ identifier, addressing questions around its purpose and design following a wave of online criticism. At the centre of the debate were two concerns: whether the new mark replaces the long-standing Godrej logo, and whether its geometric design mirrors other corporate identities.
The company has drawn a clear line. The Godrej signature logo, it said, remains unchanged and continues to be the sole logo across all consumer-facing products and services. The ‘GI’ mark, by contrast, is not a logo but a corporate group identifier intended for use alongside the Godrej signature or company name, and aimed at stakeholders such as investors, media and talent rather than consumers.
The need for such a distinction stems from the 2024 restructuring of the broader Godrej Group into two separate business entities. With both continuing to operate under the same Godrej name and signature, the identifier is positioned as a way to differentiate the Godrej Industries Group at a corporate level.
The rollout, however, triggered a broader conversation on design originality. Critics pointed to similarities between the GI mark’s geometric composition and logos used by companies globally, raising questions about distinctiveness.
Responding to this, GIG said its intellectual property and legal review found that such overlaps are common in minimalist, geometry-led design systems. Basic forms such as circles and rectangles appear across dozens of brand identities worldwide, the company noted.
It added that the identifier emerged from an extensive design process and was chosen for its simplicity, allowing it to sit alongside the Godrej signature without competing visually. While acknowledging that elemental shapes may appear less distinctive in isolation, the group emphasised that the mark is part of a broader identity system that includes a custom typeface, sonic branding and other proprietary elements.
Following legal and ethical assessments, the company said it found no impediment to using the identifier, reiterating that the GI mark is a corporate tool not a consumer-facing symbol.
In short, the logo isn’t changing but the conversation around it certainly has.
