MAM
Ogilvy Mumbai’s Mahesh Gharat and Azazul Haque move to Ogilvy Bangalore as ECDs
MUMBAI: Ogilvy Bangalore gets a creative shot in the arm with Mahesh Gharat and Azazul Haque, from the network’s Mumbai office. Gharat and Haque will head the Ogilvy Bangalore creative team in their new roles as Executive Creative Directors.
With 38 years of work experience between them, the two bring to the table a legacy of experience across major brands, to an already thriving Bangalore team.
Onthis shift, Ogilvy Sotuh president Poran Malani said, “Azaz and Mahesh, though highly experienced, are young at heart and their energy is highly infectious. It takes something special to excite an already charged up team, and Azaz and Mahesh have done exactly that.”
Ogilvy India NCD Rajv Rao said, “Mahesh and Azaz are one of the rare breed of copy-art teams that’s hard to find today. They have lots of things in common including a crazy passion for clothes, shoes, and of course, advertising. They are fantastic team players and excellent captains. Ogilvy Bangalore, with some of the best brands in the country, is the perfect place for them to lead, inspire and make a huge impact”t.
Mahesh has been with Ogilvy for 9 years and has worked on innumerable brands that include Rajasthan Tourism, Madhya Pradesh Tourism, Asian Paints, Bajaj, Star Plus (Satyamev Jayate), ICICI, Mattel, Spice Mobiles, WWF and Brooke Bond Red Label. For his work, he has been awarded more than 50 national and international awards that include Cannes Lions, Asia Pacific, New York Festival, AME and EFFIES. With creativity induced in every fibre of his body, he spends his free time pursuing his passion for painting and photography. Having worked on brands like Domino’s Pizza, Nestlé Maggi and Nescafe, Dabur, Maruti Suzuki, Havells and Nokia, Azaz comes with unbridled enthusiasm and a fresh perspective.
Brands
HP launches Smart Champs learning game show with JioStar for students
Sanya Malhotra hosts quiz series blending fun, learning and prizes
NEW DELHI: HP India has teamed up with JioStar to launch HP Smart Champs, a new learning-based game show designed to make education engaging for school students across the country.
Hosted by Sanya Malhotra, the 10-episode series brings together students from Grades 5 to 9, who compete in teams through quiz and puzzle-based challenges that test knowledge, logic and teamwork. The show will begin streaming on JioHotstar from April 11 and will premiere on Nick on April 18, with weekend episodes airing at 7 PM.
Powered by HP Smart Tank printers, the format integrates print-based learning into the gameplay, using worksheets, clues and visual problem-solving tools to encourage hands-on participation. The idea is to move students beyond rote memorisation and towards more applied, curiosity-led learning.
The competition promises high stakes, with winners set to receive a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, while runners-up will take home Rs 5 lakh. Additional rewards include HP AI laptops, Smart Tank printers and accessories, while the winning school will be awarded an HP Smart Tech Lab.
Speaking about the initiative, HP India managing director Ipsita Dasgupta said, “At HP, we believe nurturing India’s youth is key to the country’s progress, and technology plays a foundational role in enabling this. With HP Smart Champs, we wanted to create something beyond traditional learning, a fun-filled platform where curiosity, creativity and critical thinking take centre stage.”
On the show’s reach, JioStar head entertainment sales Mahesh Shetty said, “HP Smart Champs reflects how children today learn through exploration and experience. With Nick and JioHotstar, we are creating a multi-screen approach that is both engaging and meaningful.”
Highlighting the role of print, HP India senior director print Satish Kumar said, “The show brings print-based learning to life in an engaging format, helping students develop deeper understanding through hands-on experiences.”
The journey to the finale began with participation from over 1,000 schools across 26 cities, narrowing down to 34 finalists who will compete in a studio showdown in Mumbai.
With its blend of entertainment, education and technology, HP Smart Champs is positioning itself as more than just a quiz show. It is a nationwide push to make learning interactive, accessible and, above all, a lot more fun.
