MAM
Wagon R gets R Madhavan as brand ambassador
MUMBAI: Maruti Suzuki has roped in film actor R Madhavan as brand ambassador for a period of one year. Says Maruti Suzuki chief GM marketing Shashank Srivastava, “To reinstate Wagon R‘s position as leader in its segment, we brought on board a brand ambassador with whom our target group (TG), urban upper middle and middle class families, could connect.” This is the first time Wagon R has a brand ambassador. “Madhavan is well known across the country and is not divided as a face of the North or the South and this was an important fact which led us to choose him. Additionally, he being a superstar in the South will only add to the brand‘s popularity in the South Indian markets,” avers Srivastava. Percept/H, a 50:50 joint venture between Percept and Japan-based Hakuhodo, is the creative agency for Wagon R. The new campaign will have the tag line ‘smart ideas lead the world‘. “A 360 degree campaign will break mid next week. This will include TVC, radio, print, OOH and digital media. Also, we will be doing a lot of on-ground activities,” says Percept/H VP Amitabh Lahiri.
MAM
BLS International launches #VisaReady campaign to guide applicants
Initiative targets visa myths, delays and rejections with practical guidance
MUMBAI: Visa woes may soon meet their match because paperwork, it seems, is finally getting a user manual. BLS International has rolled out a new awareness drive, #VisaReadyWithBLSInternational, aimed at simplifying the often confusing visa application process and reducing delays caused by misinformation and incomplete documentation. The campaign, led across social media platforms, zeroes in on a long-standing pain point for travellers: lack of clarity around procedures, timelines and requirements. By offering step-by-step guidance, documentation checklists and clear Dos and Don’ts, the initiative attempts to turn what is typically a stressful process into a more predictable one.
At its core, the campaign also seeks to bust common myths that frequently derail applications issues that often lead to avoidable rejections or last-minute complications. The idea is to equip applicants with practical, actionable insights so they can plan better and submit stronger applications within expected timelines.
The push will not remain limited to digital channels. BLS International plans to extend the initiative across its Visa Application Centres globally, reinforcing awareness at key touchpoints where applicants engage with the process.
BLS International joint managing director Shikhar Aggarwal framed the campaign as more than a communication exercise, emphasising the company’s attempt to embed guidance and preparedness into every stage of the applicant journey.
Operating in over 70 countries and working with more than 46 client governments including embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions, the company has built a sizeable footprint in visa and consular services. With this campaign, it is now leaning into education as much as execution, signalling that in the world of visas, clarity might just be the new currency.
