Brands
ZooZoos as TV stars this IPL!
MUMBAI: Those waiting with bated breath for the Indian Premiere League (IPL) have one more reason to hoot. The funny eggheads of the balloon bellies, gibberish and idiosyncratic ways will be back and how!
Vodafone’s ZooZoos, which first appeared during IPL 2009, will take charge for the fifth time this season. This time round, they will be seen participating in television shows of different hues even as they peddle the mobile services provider’s value-added products.
The latest campaign, also created by Ogilvy & Mather, comprises 10 TVCs depicting the ZooZoos in a creative and engaging manner; each promoting a unique Vodafone product/service.
O&M national creative director Rajiv Rao, who, along with his team, started working on the creatives in March this year, said, “Television has become a part of popular culture so we thought of using it as the background. However, it is a challenge for the whole team to keep reinventing ZooZoos and whether we succeed in conveying the brand’s message through these films.”
The first two TVCs releasing on 16 April revolve around two product propositions of Vodafone – Choose your Number and Chhota Credit – and feature a reality TV show and a quiz show, respectively.
Will this result in a ZooZoo overkill? “The street hawkers started selling ZooZoo merchandises at least a month back. This is proof enough of how much people love these characters. On the digital front, the ZooZoos have millions of fans and since they come once a year, I think it’s quite the opposite of overdose,” said Rao.
According to Vodafone India brand communications and insights senior vice president, Ronita Mitra, “Like every year, this year too, Vodafone India has planned a high decibel 360-degree campaign around IPL. The ZooZoos are back during IPL 2014 to communicate Vodafone’s differentiated customer experience that offers unique products and services to make the customer’s life simple and convenient.”
Mitra added that apart from TV, Vodafone’s campaign during IPL 2014 would be supported by OOH, digital and other mediums.
Brands
Aman Gupta launches new venture OffBeat Studios
Boat co-founder steps into fresh entrepreneurial chapter after shifting to non-executive role.
MUMBAI: Aman Gupta just flipped the beat because when you’ve already made waves with Boat, the next move is to start a whole new rhythm.
boAt co-founder Aman Gupta has unveiled his new entrepreneurial venture, OffBeat Studios, marking his first independent project since stepping away from day-to-day operations at the audio and wearables brand. In a post on X on 3 March 2026, Gupta wrote: “With every birthday, some grow older, I grow bolder. I am still hungry, still impatient and still driven. Aman 2.0 begins soon. Introducing my new venture. @Offbeatstudios1.”
Details about OffBeat Studios remain scarce. Gupta has shared only a stylised “OFF/BEAT” logo and no specifics on the business model, sector focus, funding, team or launch timeline. It is unclear whether the venture will operate independently or hold any strategic link to Boat.
Gupta played a pivotal role in building boAt’s brand and marketing identity since its inception and gained wider visibility as a judge on Shark Tank India. His shift to a non-executive board position followed a leadership transition at Boat last year, Gaurav Nayyar was appointed CEO, while co-founder Sameer Mehta took on the role of executive director focused on strategy, reflecting a move toward professionalised management.
The announcement arrives as Boat’s parent company, Imagine Marketing, gears up for its initial public offering. The Warburg Pincus-backed firm received SEBI approval after confidentially filing in April 2025 and is reportedly targeting a valuation of around Rs 13,000 crore. This marks Boat’s second IPO attempt, the first, filed in January 2022 for Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 900 crore fresh issue + Rs 1,100 crore offer for sale), was withdrawn amid market volatility.
Boat has not commented on whether Gupta’s new venture will impact the upcoming public issue. For a founder who helped turn Boat into a youth-favourite audio brand, OffBeat Studios signals not a slowdown, but a bold new track proving that when one rhythm fades, another is already waiting to drop.
