The advertising world mourns the loss of Piyush Pandey, who passed away on 24th October 2025 in Mumbai at the age of 70.
Known as the man who gave Indian advertising its distinct voice and emotion, Pandey’s work touched millions and transformed how India connected with brands.
Born and raised in Jaipur, Pandey began his career as a cricketer and tea-taster before joining Ogilvy & Mather in the early 1980s. He revolutionized Indian advertising, replacing polished English accents and Western imagery with authentic Indian humour, emotion, and storytelling.
Most people have heard the famous tagline, “If you love your wife, how can you say no to Prestige?”—a line so popular that when the advertisement played on TV, audiences would often recite it back. This iconic tagline was crafted by the legend Piyush Pandey.
Beyond Prestige, Pandey created numerous memorable campaigns that became part of everyday life: Fevicol – “It’s a Fevicol bond – it will never break”, Cadbury Dairy Milk – “There’s something special in life”, Asian Paints – “Every home has a story to tell”, Vodafone – “You and I, in this Beautiful World”, SBI Life – “A diamond doesn’t know what your salary is”.
As well as social campaigns like Bharat Nirman and Polio Eradication – “Two drops of life”, and even the political campaign “This time, it’s Modi’s government.” Each of these taglines reflects Pandey’s genius in connecting deeply with audiences through emotion, simplicity, and cultural relevance.
Under his leadership, Ogilvy India became one of the most respected creative agencies globally. Pandey rose to become Chief Creative Officer Worldwide and Executive Chairman India, mentoring generations of young creatives.
Despite his towering success, he remained grounded, known for his trademark moustache, hearty laugh, and love for cricket and people. He didn’t just sell products—he told stories that celebrated Indian life, relationships, and values.
As India remembers him, his legacy lives on in every ad that dares to be real and human. Pandey believed, “Good advertising is not about selling. It’s about understanding people.” With his passing, the nation bids farewell to a storyteller who defined an era of Indian advertising.
