Brands
Tinder brings real-world dating experiences to North East India
MUMBAI: Dating, it turns out, is less about grand gestures and more about shared moments. The song you both hum, the snack you swear by, the team you cheer for. Tinder is leaning into exactly that, taking dating out of the chat window and into everyday social spaces across India’s North East.
From Guwahati and Shillong to Ziro Valley, Tinder’s recent on-ground activity blended seamlessly into the region’s vibrant community life. Music gigs, sports matches, food queues and festivals became natural meeting points, showing how shared interests can quietly do the heavy lifting when it comes to starting conversations. Nearly one in three young singles in India say common interests matter when forming connections, and Tinder decided to put that insight to work in the real world.
In the North East, music is not just entertainment, it is social glue. Tinder tapped into this rhythm at live gigs and festivals, where conversations often start before the first note is played.
At Post Malone’s Guwahati concert, a balloon cart outside the venue set the mood early. Cheeky prompts like “Wanna sing together?” floated around as easily as the balloons themselves, turning waiting time into ice-breaking time. Smiles followed, chats started and the night began on a lighter note even before the music kicked in.
The Ziro Festival brought a more intimate story to life. Creator Taksing Mangha documented her first meeting with someone she had been chatting with on Tinder for weeks. Music, local food and the festival’s easy-going atmosphere made the transition from app to real life feel natural rather than nerve-wracking. It was a reminder that shared playlists can sometimes lead to shared memories.
Sports provided another easy excuse to connect. In Shillong especially, match days are as much about the crowd as the scoreline. Tinder joined the action at football and basketball games, blending into the buzz with playful prompts and crowd interactions.
At the men’s football match, branded floor stickers, standees and merchandise nudged fans to look beyond the pitch. The momentum continued at a men’s basketball game, where lines like “You found the court, now find your plus 1” added humour to the high-energy setting. A similar approach reached women’s basketball in Guwahati, extending the focus on community-first moments.
Sports, after all, rank among the most popular interests young users choose to define their vibe on Tinder, making stadiums and courts a natural extension of the app.
Beyond events, Tinder leaned into local voices and everyday humour. Meet-ups with regional creators, including a community gathering with Shillong-based creator Gary Lu, kept things relaxed and social, while reels and live stories carried the energy online.
Outdoor billboards across Guwahati and Shillong played with food references and cultural cues. Lines such as “When the chemistry is right, even bhut jolokia feels mild” and “Standing in a bhog queue? It’s better with a cutie!” turned daily situations into dating metaphors that felt instantly familiar.
Brands
Lotus Herbals unveils HydroActivated sunscreen with high-impact campaign
Harnaaz Sandhu fronts digital push spotlighting breakthrough sun care tech
MUMBAI: Lotus Herbals has rolled out a high-decibel marketing campaign to introduce what it calls India’s first hydro-activated sunscreen, aiming to reshape how consumers think about sun protection.
At the centre of the launch is the Safe Sun HydroActivated Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA+++, a formulation built on a patent-pending Hydrosome Technology that activates on contact with moisture. Unlike conventional sunscreens that can weaken with sweat, this product is designed to do the opposite, boosting protection when the skin is exposed to water or perspiration.
The campaign is led by Harnaaz Sandhu and is being amplified across OTT platforms, social media and outdoor locations in key metro cities. The brand film takes a light, relatable approach to everyday sunscreen struggles such as uneven application and fading protection, while positioning the new product as a reliable, high-performance alternative for active lifestyles.
Beyond its core technology, the sunscreen features next-generation UV filters and Edelweiss Flower Extract, offering hydration alongside protection. The formula claims up to 10 hours of water resistance and even, all-round defence against sun exposure and tanning, targeting consumers who want both skincare and performance in one product.
Speaking about the launch, Lotus Herbals chairman and managing director Nitin Passi said, “We are excited to launch India’s first sunscreen with hydroactivated technology which is our most innovative product launch. This isn’t just a sunscreen; it’s a technological breakthrough that utilises a novel manufacturing process. We’ve created a product that stays invisible on the skin yet becomes a performance powerhouse when the user is most active.”
Sharing her experience, Lotus Herbals brand ambassador Harnaaz Sandhu said, “I am thrilled to be associated with Lotus Herbals Safe Sun for their new sun protection campaign. In my world, there is no room for shortcuts, and I need functional and reliable products that work as hard as I do. The hydroactivated sunscreen is a game-changer because it blends with my skin and protects me better when I’m pushing my limits.”
The campaign is being distributed across platforms including JioStar connected TV integrations and ZEE5, along with television placements such as Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in West Bengal. A large influencer push involving over a thousand creators, along with in-store branding and retail activations, is also part of the rollout.
With a blend of science-led positioning and mass-market storytelling, Lotus Herbals is betting on innovation to stand out in the crowded sun care segment, hoping its moisture-powered promise strikes the right chord with today’s always-on consumers.
