Mumbai: House of McDowell’s Soda, in collaboration with Publicis Groupe India’s Team Spirit, has launched its new campaign Yaaron Wali Baat 2.0, reinforcing its enduring commitment to celebrating friendship. Titled ‘Karo Kuch Pehli Baar Jab Saath Hon Yaar’, the campaign spotlights the unforgettable “firsts” that are made all the more memorable when experienced with friends — from daring adventures to shared milestones.
The campaign film features brand ambassador Kartik Aaryan inspiring a friend to face a daunting challenge, capturing the courage and energy that comes from strong friendships. What follows is a creative and playful montage that reimagines iconic historical firsts — like the moon landing and the invention of social media — all humorously presented as if fuelled by the power of friendship. These moments underscore the campaign’s message: when friends come together, even the impossible feels achievable.
“Friendship has always been at the heart of House of McDowell’s Soda, and with Yaaron Wali Baat 2.0 we’re taking that legacy forward for a new generation,” said Varun Koorichh, Vice President and Portfolio Head – Marketing, Diageo India. “The firsts we share with friends are often the ones that shape us the most. Young people today are seeking experiences that matter, not just highlights of success. Through this campaign, we want to inspire them to keep creating those unforgettable stories together. With Kartik bringing this alive, Yaaron Wali Baat 2.0 is more than a brand film, it is an invitation to celebrate friendship in its truest form and reinforce our role in culture as the brand that champions the power of friendship.”
Kartik Smetacek, Chief Creative Officer, Saatchi & Saatchi India, added, “The brief was to reinterpret McDowell’s ‘yaari’ promise for the next generation of consumers. We started with a powerful insight – that so many of our first-time experiences happen with friends. The creative idea took a leap from there, giving ‘yaari’ a grand stage in history, but doing it with wit and a lightness of touch.”
Kartik Aaryan, who has been associated with the brand for several years, shared his perspective on the new campaign, “My journey with House of McDowell’s Soda has always been about celebrating the magic of Yaari. What makes ‘Yaaron Wali Baat 2.0’ special is how those moments with your yaars change you — they give you courage, bring out your best, and turn into stories you’ll never forget. For me, it’s never just about the memory, it’s about the bond that lasts. That’s the true spirit of Yaari, and why my partnership with House of McDowell’s Soda has always been close to my heart.”
The campaign film is part of a broader multi-platform rollout, spanning social media, Out-of-Home (OOH), and retail activations.
Watch the film here:
Team Credits:
CEO : Paritosh Srivastava
Chief Strategy Officer : Ekta Relan
Chief Creative Officer : Kartik Smetacek
Executive Director: Atin Wahal
NCD: Roshni Kavina
ECD: Trishay Kotwal
Senior Vice President : Karishma Menon
Senior Brand Associate Strategy: Digvijay Dube
Creative team: Smita Misra, Diwesh Dishu, Avinash Jakhalekar, Anand Vyas, Darshan Jalgaonkar
National Films Head (Publicis Groupe): Jignesh (Jiggy) Maru
Executive Producer (Agency): Rahebar Sonawalla, Pooja Talwar
Account Management Team: Sinjini Pal Majumder, Roshan Sonkar, Neha Talreja
Production House: GoodAfternoon Films
Director: Akanksha Seda
Executive Producers: Shashanka Chaturvedi, Vikram Kalra & Robin D’Cruz
Producer: Alok Potnis
India DOP: Malay Prakash
Chile DOP: Matias Jara
Chile Action DOP: Jens Meier
Production Designer: Niyoti Upadhye & Vinay Narkar
Music: Abhishek Arora
Editors: Shekhar Rogye
Graphics: Studio Gobo & Old Monk Studio
