AD Agencies
“Success potential lies in creating fresh content that highlights India’s emerging generation’s aspirations”: Vivify Asia’s Vikram Bhalla
Mumbai: Entrepreneurship is the art of turning ideas into action, where innovation meets determination. It’s a journey marked by risk, resilience, and relentless pursuit. Entrepreneurs are the architects of change, crafting their destinies with a blend of passion and practicality. In this dynamic realm, every challenge is an opportunity, and success is the sweet reward for those who dare to disrupt the status quo.
In this interview, we have an industry veteran – Vikram Bhalla who is an entrepreneur/filmmaker with a diverse career spanning over 30 years. His journey reflects his enduring passion for events, content creation, and innovation. Vikram’s professional life began right after school when he worked as a telephone instrument salesman in 1992. However, he found his true calling in the world of music and events. He transitioned to managing bands, including Daler Mehndi, in partnership with the international agency PNG, all under Golden Melodies in 1993.
Vikram’s expertise in lifestyle, music, and the audio industry is the foundation of his creative endeavors. He has actively engaged in various lifestyle segments, including motorcycling, music, audio, cycling, and coffee culture. He envisions Vivify Asia as a platform for nurturing entrepreneurs, embracing the gig economy, and fostering creativity.
Indiantelevision.com in conversation with Vivify Asia founder and director Vikram Bhalla discussed his entrepreneurial journey, Vivify Asia’s USP, and more.
Edited Excerpts:
On the inspiration behind your transition from selling telephone instruments to managing bands, and eventually founding Vivify Asia
The evolution transpired as my awareness heightened during the sales process, revealing that particular brands wield a premium despite offering fundamentally equivalent products as their counterparts. This realisation prompted a heightened cognizance of the pivotal role that marketing assumes in augmenting the perceived value of products.
On your experience as a DJ in Delhi contributing to the foundation of Vivify Asia, and the role that your passion for music played in shaping the company’s identity
I became involved in live events out of a fascination with the factors that contribute to their success. This curiosity led me to delve into various aspects of the event process. Initially, I took on the role of a DJ, and as I embarked on different projects, I gradually assumed responsibility for additional facets of the events. This evolution saw me not only handling the musical aspects but also taking charge of technical aspects and eventually delving into the thematic treatment of events. Through this progression, I gained a comprehensive understanding of the diverse elements that come together to create a memorable and successful event experience.
On the USP of Vivify Asia in providing high-quality content at affordable prices and balancing cost-effectiveness with maintaining content quality
Leveraging insights gained from millions of human and consumer interactions, coupled with our adept skill in crafting impactful scripts, we seamlessly integrate our understanding of the human mindset into content creation. This synergy allows us to produce compelling content that effectively resonates with audiences without exceeding budgetary constraints. Drawing on decades of experience in the production process, we strike a harmonious balance between effectiveness and cost-efficiency. Our approach combines a deep understanding of consumer behavior with the art of crafting persuasive narratives, ensuring that our content not only engages but also aligns seamlessly with the financial parameters of the production journey.
On your engagement in various lifestyle segments being diverse, and ensuring the appeal of your documentaries extending beyond enthusiasts
The goal is to spark curiosity and provide a glimpse into the enriching experiences that a joyful lifestyle can offer. This initiative aims to open a window for individuals, offering them the opportunity to explore and uncover exciting aspects of life that may have previously escaped their attention. By doing so, we hope to introduce people to novel and enjoyable activities they may not be familiar with, ultimately enhancing their overall sense of well-being.
On the genre or type of content that you believe, holds the most potential for success in the current market
The potential for success lies in creating fresh content that highlights the aspirations of the emerging generation in India. Whether it’s fictional narratives or real-life stories, there’s a growing audience eager to witness and hear about individuals who are ambitiously pursuing their dreams and forging unique identities. The opportunity resides in showcasing the endeavors of this new wave of Indians who are thinking big and striving to carve out their distinct paths. People are keen to engage with content that reflects the spirit of these endeavors, making it a promising avenue for storytellers to explore and captivate audiences with narratives that resonate with the dreams and ambitions of the contemporary Indian persona.
On navigating the dynamic landscape of a rapidly evolving industry, balancing traditional and new-age approaches, to position Vivify Asia effectively
Examine all propositions critically, embracing methodologies that demonstrate efficacy while scrutinising established industry practices that may have diminished in effectiveness over time. Assume the role of a devil’s advocate in assessing each approach, thereby identifying and endorsing those that withstand rigorous scrutiny.
On the success stories where Vivify Asia played a crucial role in fostering someone’s creative endeavors or business ventures
The alumni of Vivify have successfully established a minimum of ten businesses. Situated in proximity to our initial office, a local community expressed interest in employment opportunities, prompting several individuals to join as production assistants. Over time, these individuals transitioned to establish a prosperous set designing enterprise, collaborating with industry leaders. Such success stories abound within our community.
On the advice that you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs
For aspiring entrepreneurs, my advice would be to dedicate 10,000 hours to your craft, embrace challenges with an open mindset, and persevere through adversity. Take ample time to observe various customer interactions, as they hold valuable insights. By doing so, you’ll discover that the customer often guides the way forward.
AD Agencies
AdTrust Summit 2026 to examine trust, AI and Gen Alpha in advertising
Two-day summit in Mumbai to explore ethics, regulation and the future of advertising trust
MUMBAI:Â At a time when advertising is navigating a delicate trust deficit, the Advertising Standards Council of India is preparing to bring the industry to the table. On 17 and 18 March, the body will host the inaugural AdTrust Summit 2026 in Mumbai, a two-day gathering designed to spark conversation around responsibility, regulation and credibility in modern advertising.
The summit, to be held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Bandra Kurla Complex, will bring together leaders from advertising, media, technology and policy to examine how brands can build trust in a marketplace increasingly shaped by algorithms, influencers and artificial intelligence.
In an age of deepfakes, dark patterns and blurred lines between content and commerce, the question is no longer just how brands capture attention, but whether audiences believe what they see. The AdTrust Summit aims to unpack that challenge.
Day one will turn its attention to the youngest digital natives. Titled Decoding Gen Alpha, the session will unveil ‘What the Sigma?’, a study by ASCI and Futurebrands Consulting that explores how children growing up in a hyper-digital environment encounter advertising and commercial messaging.
The report presentation will be delivered by Santosh Desai, founder and director at Think9 Consumer Technologies and a social commentator known for his insights into consumer behaviour. The discussion that follows will attempt to decode how Gen Alpha consumes media, interacts with brands and navigates the growing overlap between entertainment and marketing.
In a move that mirrors the subject itself, two Gen Alpha students will also join the conversation, offering a rare perspective from the generation advertisers are trying to understand.
The second panel of the day will shift the focus from observation to implication, asking what the report’s findings mean for brands, agencies and society. Speakers include Karthik Srinivasan, communications strategy consultant; Preeti Vyas, president at Mythik; and Abigail Dias, associate president planning at Ogilvy. The session will be moderated by Sonali Krishna, editor at ET Brand Equity.
Day two moves from insight to regulation. Under the theme From Compliance to Trust, ASCI will release its Ad Law Compendium, a comprehensive guide to India’s advertising regulations.
The day will open with a keynote by Sudhanshu Vats, chairman at ASCI and managing director at Pidilite Industries, followed by a chief guest address by Sanjay Jaju, secretary at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Legal experts from Khaitan & Co., including Haigreve Khaitan, senior partner, and Tanu Banerjee, partner, will present an overview of the current advertising law landscape in India and examine whether existing frameworks are equipped to deal with emerging technologies and formats.
Subsequent panels will explore issues increasingly shaping the industry’s ethical compass. Conversations will range from the limits of persuasive design and the rise of dark patterns, to the growing scrutiny brands face from digital creators and consumer watchdogs.
One session will also feature Revant Himatsingka, widely known online as the Food Pharmer, whose critiques of packaged food brands have sparked debate around transparency and corporate accountability.
Later discussions will turn toward media literacy among Gen Alpha, asking how children can be equipped to navigate a digital world where gaming, content and commerce are becoming indistinguishable.
The summit will conclude with a final panel on the future of advertising, bringing together voices from agencies, legal circles and technology platforms to discuss how innovation, intelligence and integrity can coexist.
For an industry built on persuasion, trust has always been its quiet currency. But as audiences grow more sceptical and digital ecosystems more complex, that currency is under pressure.
Events like the AdTrust Summit suggest the advertising world knows it cannot afford to take credibility for granted. The real challenge now is turning conversation into commitment.
