MAM
“The digital creative industry’s landscape is in perpetual flux”: Garage Group’s Saurabh Gupta
Mumbai: Digital media, music production, and creative marketing are vibrant and interconnected facets of the entertainment and advertising industries. Digital media encompasses online content, including videos and interactive experiences. Music production involves creating and arranging music tracks, often for media projects. Creative marketing focuses on innovative campaigns to engage audiences and promote brands. Together, these elements play pivotal roles in shaping modern entertainment and advertising strategies, leveraging technology and creativity to captivate and engage audiences in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Garage Group is a creative agency founded in 2015 by Saurabh Gupta and Anjali Chauhan. They offer services in creative, digital media, social media, video production, and more. Garage recently underwent a transformation, uniting various groups under Garage Collective to foster collaboration and innovation. They have a history of working with brands like Sony, Microsoft, Oppo, etc., aiming to revolutionise the creative industry.
In an email conversation with Garage Group founder and MD Saurabh Gupta, Indiantelevision.com delved deeper into Garage Group’s evolution, maintaining creative excellence, their vision and mission, etc.
Saurabh Gupta is from Kanpur, the eastern business hub. He began his career at a young age and has spent the last 12 years working with various MNCs and big brands in leadership roles such as Reliance Entertainment Digital and Percept Media as a business head of innovations and new initiatives. In 2015, he founded Garage Productions, which was primarily a film production house focusing on short format and new-age content. With increasing demand, this evolved into a full-service digital creative agency with an in-house production facility, the first of its kind in India.
Edited Excerpts:
On the journey of Garage Group’s evolution from its inception in 2015 to the diverse range of verticals it encompasses today
Since its inception in 2015, Garage Group has evolved into a versatile digital creative agency with a diverse portfolio of verticals. The journey has been marked by notable milestones and challenges. Initially, establishing a unique identity in a competitive landscape was a significant hurdle. However, our dedication to strategies and a client-centric approach propelled us forward. Collaborations with esteemed brands like Sony and Microsoft elevated our reputation. Geographic expansion to multiple locations enabled us to better serve clients and seize new opportunities. Looking ahead, our focus remains on sustained growth, technological integration, and nurturing creativity to surmount challenges and lead the industry.
On the introduction of Garage Collective driving synergy among Garage Music, Garage Productions, and Garage Media
By converging talents across these verticals, we unlock innovative possibilities. For instance, music produced under Garage Music can seamlessly enhance video content created by Garage Productions, while Garage Media magnifies the reach of both. This consolidation bolsters creativity, resource utilisation, and the overall impact of our offerings, propelling Garage Group to new heights as a unified creative force.
On Garage Group setting itself apart from, in a competitive landscape with numerous creative agencies and your USP that consistently draws clients to choose Garage Group for their creative needs
Amid a sea of creative agencies, Garage Group distinguishes itself through its Unique Selling Proposition (USP): a fusion of innovation, collaboration, and tailored solutions. Our deep commitment to crafting innovative campaigns while maintaining a collaborative relationship with clients stands at the core of our success. Moreover, our multi-vertical approach allows for comprehensive solutions under one roof, streamlining the creative process and offering clients a holistic experience. This holistic blend of innovation, collaboration, and diverse services consistently attracts clients to choose Garage Group as their preferred creative partner.
On highlighting a project that you consider particularly innovative or impactful, and its stand-out factor
The campaign generated a cascade of engagement, sharing heartfelt stories and forming a supportive community. This project’s innovation lies in its capacity to align with Caprese’s goals while resonating deeply with the audience. The success of this campaign underscores Garage Group’s prowess in delivering impactful campaigns that meld meaning with creativity, driving both emotional connection and tangible results.
On Garage Group ensuring consistent creative excellence across different regions with its presence in multiple locations
Maintaining creative excellence across multiple regions is a cornerstone of our operation. We achieve this through standardised processes, clear communication, and a unified creative vision. Regular cross-regional collaboration ensures knowledge transfer and shared best practices. Local teams are empowered to infuse cultural nuances into campaigns while adhering to Garage Group’s overarching standards. Moreover, technological tools enable remote collaboration and efficient resource allocation. This approach ensures that clients experience the same high-caliber creativity and results from Garage Group’s services, regardless of their location.
On the key trends that you’ve observed in the digital creative industry and Garage Group adapting to stay at the forefront of these trends
The digital creative industry’s landscape is in perpetual flux. We remain at the forefront by keenly observing trends. Interactive content, augmented reality, and data-driven personalisation have gained traction.
By being agile and proactive, Garage Group consistently innovates and maintains its standing as a trendsetter in the digital creative realm.
On seeing the landscape of digital media, music production, and creative marketing evolving in the next few years and the role that Garage Group aims to play in shaping this evolution
The coming years will witness transformative shifts in digital media, music production, and creative marketing. These changes will be driven by AI integration, immersive experiences, and enhanced data analytics. Garage Group aim is to be a proactive influencer, embracing these changes to offer pioneering solutions. We envision leading collaborations that amplify cross-disciplinary synergies, and pioneering experiences that captivate audiences. Our mission is to drive these industries forward, continually redefining the boundaries of creativity and technology while nurturing meaningful connections between brands and consumers.
On their vision & mission for the next three years
We’re committed to empowering our teams, fostering a culture of constant learning, and pushing creative boundaries. Through these efforts, Garage Group aims to be a driving force in shaping the future of digital media, music production, and creative marketing, consistently exceeding client expectations and setting industry standards.
MAM
India’s financial sector spent less on TV ads in 2025 but flooded the internet
Banks, insurers and lenders cut tv ads as digital jumps, LIC and Muthoot lead tv and Axis Bank tops online
MUMBAI: India’s banking, financial services and insurance sector, one of the most prolific advertisers in the country, delivered a split verdict on media in 2025. It spent less on television, held its nerve in print, turned up the volume on radio and deluged the internet with a ferocity that left every other medium looking pedestrian. The picture that emerges from TAM AdEx’s cross-media report for the BFSI sector is of an industry in transition, still wedded to the news bulletin but increasingly seduced by the algorithm.
Television: a retreat with caveats
TV ad volumes for the BFSI sector fell 16 per cent in 2025 compared with 2024, a sharp reversal after two years of consistent growth that had pushed volumes 16 per cent above 2021 levels by 2023 and a further 7 per cent higher by 2024. Within 2025 itself, the drop was concentrated in the middle of the year: the second and third quarters saw ad volumes slide 35 per cent each against the first quarter, with a partial recovery of 13 per cent in the fourth.
The retreat did not reshuffle the deck. Life insurance retained first place among TV categories with 19 per cent of ad volumes, mortgage loans held second with 16 per cent, and the top ten categories together accounted for 82 per cent of all BFSI television advertising. The dominance of news channels was equally pronounced: news claimed 68 per cent of ad volumes, general entertainment channels a distant 14 per cent and movies 12 per cent. Together, news and GEC captured 82 per cent of the sector’s television spend. News bulletins alone took 48 per cent of programme-genre volumes, with feature films second at 12 per cent. Prime time, between 6pm and 11pm, drew 34 per cent of ad volumes, followed by afternoon at 22 per cent and morning at 20 per cent. A full 82 per cent of all ads ran between 20 and 40 seconds.
Life Insurance Corporation of India was the sector’s biggest TV spender with 11 per cent of ad volumes. Muthoot Financial Enterprises came second with 9 per cent, followed by National Payments Corporation of India at 6 per cent, Tata AIG General Insurance at 5 per cent and State Bank of India at 5 per cent. The top ten advertisers together accounted for 51 per cent of total TV volumes. Three names were new to the top ten in 2025: Tata AIG General Insurance, IIFL Finance and Tata Capital. At brand level, Muthoot Finance Loan Against Gold led with 9 per cent share, Tata AIG Health Insurance entered the top ten for the first time, and the top ten brands together contributed 35 per cent of ad volumes.
Print: the long climb continues
Print told a different story. Ad space for the BFSI sector has grown every year since 2021, rising 16 per cent in 2022, 30 per cent in 2023, 51 per cent in 2024 and 64 per cent in 2025, all measured against a 2021 baseline. Within 2025, ad space was flat in the second quarter but surged 46 per cent in the third and 33 per cent in the fourth compared with the first. Life insurance led print categories with 21 per cent of ad space, followed by mutual funds and banking services and products at 13 per cent each, and corporate financial institutes at 11 per cent. The top ten categories together took 82 per cent of print ad space. LIC led print advertisers with 6 per cent share, and the top ten together covered just 19 per cent of ad space, a reflection of how fragmented print spending remains. Three new entrants joined the top ten in 2025, with Billion Brains Garage Ventures the only exclusive presence not seen in 2024’s list. In the top ten brands, LIC dominated with a 2 per cent share, while Nippon India Mutual Fund rose to third position from fourth in 2024. English accounted for 62 per cent of print ad space, Hindi for 20 per cent. Business and finance publications took 59 per cent of the genre split. The south zone led regional spending with 33 per cent of print ad space, Bangalore topping that zone, while New Delhi and Mumbai were the leading cities nationally.
Radio: louder than ever
Radio ad volumes for the BFSI sector have climbed steadily, rising 12 per cent above 2021 levels in 2023, 36 per cent in 2024 and 45 per cent in 2025. The quarterly pattern within 2025 was volatile: a sharp drop of 43 per cent in the second quarter and 42 per cent in the third, followed by a near-full recovery in the fourth. Life insurance led radio categories with 22 per cent of volumes, banking services and products second at 14 per cent and corporate NBFCs third at 11 per cent. LIC of India held its position as the leading radio advertiser with 20 per cent of ad volumes; the top ten radio advertisers together covered 69 per cent. Muthoot Financial Enterprises led radio brands with 10 per cent share, five of the top ten brands belonged to LIC alone, and SBI Mutual Fund made a remarkable leap to fifth position from 272nd in 2024. Evening and morning time-bands together captured 84 per cent of radio ad volumes, with evenings at 44 per cent and mornings at 40 per cent. Maharashtra was the leading state for radio BFSI advertising with 18 per cent share; Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh together accounted for 43 per cent.
Digital: the five-times surge
If one number defines the 2025 BFSI advertising story, it is five. Digital ad impressions for the sector multiplied fivefold between 2021 and 2025, having already doubled in 2023 and doubled again in 2024 before the 2025 leap. Within the year, impressions dipped 19 per cent in the second quarter and 12 per cent in the third before recovering 8 per cent above the first quarter by the fourth. Banking services and products led digital categories with 27 per cent of impressions, life insurance and credit cards tied at 19 per cent each, and securities and sharebroking organisations fell from first place in 2024 to fourth in 2025. Axis Bank was the runaway leader among digital advertisers with 12 per cent of impressions, followed by ICICI Bank at 9 per cent, IDFC First Bank at 7 per cent and Kotak Mahindra Bank at 6 per cent. The top ten digital advertisers covered 59 per cent of impressions, and seven of them were new entrants compared with 2024, signalling rapid churn in the digital spending hierarchy. At brand level, Axis Bank led with 9 per cent, ICICI HPCL Super Saver Credit Card vaulted to third place from 921st in 2024, and six of the top ten digital brands were new to the list. Programmatic buying accounted for 91 per cent of all digital BFSI transactions; combined with ad networks, it captured 96 per cent.
The data from TAM AdEx paints the portrait of a sector that still believes in the power of the television news bulletin to sell insurance to the masses, but increasingly knows that the next generation of borrowers, investors and cardholders is scrolling, not watching. The race is now on to reach them before the algorithm serves up someone else’s loan offer first.
