mPokket names Naveen Polishetty as face of new growth campaign

MUMBAI: Not every dream needs another audition, sometimes it just needs someone to say yes. Digital lending platform mPokket has launched a new brand campaign, ‘mPokket Ante Non-Stop Growth’, roping in Telugu actor Naveen Polishetty as its brand ambassador to champion young Indians seeking easier access to formal credit.

Created by Social Panga, the campaign comprises a 35-second master film and two 20-second cohort films, all built around a central message: ambition should not be held back by repeated validation or limited access to credit.

Rather than relying on a conventional celebrity endorsement, the campaign draws on Polishetty’s own journey. A Hyderabad-born engineering graduate, the actor attended more than 1,000 auditions before landing his breakthrough in Telugu cinema, a story the brand uses to underline themes of perseverance and opportunity.

The master film links his years of rejection to the broader challenge faced by many young Indians who struggle to secure their first formal loan despite having the ambition to grow. The accompanying films focus on everyday aspirations—a young professional held back by limited credit access and a woman turning her dream of opening a beauty parlour into reality after securing financial support.

The campaign comes as fintech firms increasingly position themselves around financial inclusion rather than just lending products, targeting first-time borrowers with messaging centred on aspiration and upward mobility.

According to Gaurav Jalan, Founder and CEO of mPokket, the platform has helped 6.5 million Indians secure their first-ever formal loan. He added that nearly 79 per cent of these new-to-credit (NTC) borrowers were under the age of 25 when they took their first loan, highlighting the company’s focus on younger consumers entering the formal financial system.

Jalan said the campaign reflects the gap between talent and opportunity, arguing that many young people continue to face barriers when seeking credit despite demonstrating potential and consistent effort.

Polishetty said the campaign resonated with his own experiences of repeatedly proving himself before finding success, adding that many young Indians face similar hurdles when trying to access finance to pursue their ambitions.

The campaign will primarily target the Telugu-speaking market, where mPokket has built a strong borrower base and where Polishetty enjoys significant popularity, particularly across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including rapidly growing non-metro markets. The films will be rolled out across digital platforms, with the actor’s appeal across both Telugu and Hindi audiences expected to extend the campaign’s reach beyond its core market.

As competition intensifies in India’s digital lending sector, brands are increasingly betting that stories of resilience and not just interest rates will resonate with a generation looking for its first financial stepping stone.