Mumbai: MakeMyTrip has launched its latest campaign, “Villain Mat Bano”, a five-film series that humorously captures the stress and chaos of international travel for Indian travelers. Conceptualized by Restless @ MagicCircle, the campaign blends nostalgia, real-world travel challenges, and Bollywood drama to resonate with audiences nationwide.
The series features iconic 90s Bollywood villains—Gulshan Grover, Mukesh Rishi, and Dalip Tahil—reimagined not as bad guys, but as everyday travelers navigating visa issues, lack of Indian food, no early check-ins, and other common travel frustrations. The campaign highlights how even the calmest traveler can feel like a “villain” when plans go off-script.
The campaign’s creative approach stood out for its hand-painted, Bollywood-style posters, which visually anchored the storytelling. A behind-the-scenes video showcases the artists who continue to preserve this traditional craft.
Rishabh Kapoor, Creative Director at Restless, explained, “We didn’t want to nostalgia-bait by dressing these legends in their old avatars. The fun was in reimagining them in today’s world—still iconic, but totally relatable. Credit to National Award-winning costume designer, Veera Kapur, who created looks that felt OTT, quirky and fresh all at once.”
Angira Lahiri, Strategy Head at Restless, added, “In 20 seconds, storytelling has to be simple, sharp, and have a bit of shock value. This campaign worked because it’s rooted in honesty—it reflects how Indians truly feel on international trips, with a wink and a laugh instead of a lecture.”
Ashit Chakravarty, COO of MagicCircle, said, “What makes ‘Villain Mat Bano’ special is how it balances emotion and entertainment. It’s not just an ad—it’s a cultural observation. And it’s executed with the kind of craft that gives it a long shelf life beyond the campaign cycle.”
Abhinav Narula, VP – Marketing at MakeMyTrip, added,“The campaign blends humour, nostalgia, and real travel challenges to capture what travellers actually go through. With ‘Villain Mat Bano,’ we wanted to show that MakeMyTrip has thought through those stressful moments, so travellers don’t have to play the villain when things go off-script.”
Watch the films here:
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