Top 10 Brand Ambassadors In India

One of the most powerful marketing strategies is to have a brand ambassador. In India, many celebrities are renowned as brand ambassadors in addition to being actors. Here are some of India's top brand ambassadors.

A significant part of brand building is to have a brand ambassador. A brand ambassador is a person who is chosen to represent the brand in various marketing activities such as appearing in various advertisements and in images on the website along with other promotional material. The brand ambassador functions as the face of the brand.

One of the most common marketing strategy for brands is to have a celebrity brand ambassador. The celebrity is chosen after many rounds of discussion. It is important to select a celebrity who represents the brand ethos and image well. Their on-screen persona from their films should also match with the product they are endorsing.

In India, several brands have become iconic solely due to their celebrity brand ambassador. In a country like India, star power is immense and can be hugely influential. People look up to them and try to emulate them in whatever ways they can. Here are the top ten brand ambassadors in India.

1. Amitabh Bachchan

The most iconic voice in India without a doubt is Amitabh Bachchan’s. Nobody can mistake that booming yet smooth baritone of his. Added to that, his grey beard and thick-rimmed glasses give him the aura of a respected patriarch, making him ideal for positioning a brand as reliable as their brand ambassador.

Perhaps the most impactful ambassadorship Amitabh Bachchan has done has been for the government of India’s polio eradication campaign. His vigorous appeal to mothers to get their children vaccinated against polio led to a surge of vaccinations. In 2014, India was declared polio free and having Amitabh Bachchan as the celebrity ambassador played a significant role.

Other significant brand ambassadorships by Amitabh Bachchan include Gujarat Tourism, Justdial, Maggi and Kalyan Jewellers.

What Makes Him A Successful Brand Ambassador:

2. Virat Kohli

Among athletes, Virat Kohli is the most sought after as a celebrity brand ambassador. Aside from being one of the most iconic cricketers at present, Virat Kohli is also a role model to the youth due to his style and manner of speaking. In fact, he used to be mocked for his speaking style earlier which was seen as uncouth and rough but now is praised for his eloquent speaking style.

Some of the brands which Virat Kohli has been the ambassador for include Puma, HSBC Bank, Manyavar, Myntra, Too Yumm, Vivo and Uber.

What Makes Him A Successful Brand Ambassador:

• Youth Appeal and Dynamic Personality: Virat Kohli’s energetic and passionate persona resonates with younger audiences, making him an ideal ambassador for brands targeting the youth demographic.

• Fitness Icon and Healthy Lifestyle: Known for his dedication to fitness and a disciplined lifestyle, Kohli embodies health and wellness, making him a strong fit for sports, fitness, and lifestyle brands.

• Global Recognition and Influence: As an internationally recognized cricketer, Kohli’s global fame and large social media following provide brands with widespread visibility and influence beyond just the Indian market.

3. Ranveer Singh

Ranveer Singh is among India's top celebrity brand ambassadors. He is always energetic and full of life and is also seen as one of the coolest actors in Bollywood. Ranveer Singh does have a bit of a reputation as a lady's man and a playboy, which makes him even more likeable to the Indian masses. 

This has made him incredibly sought after by brands. So much so that as of 2024 he was the celebrity with the highest number of brand deals. These include Pepsi, Ducati, Zomato and more.

What Makes Him A Successful Brand Ambassador:

4. Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is also among the athletes who is incredibly popular as a brand ambassador. Aside from being one of the greatest sportsmen India has ever produced, Sachin Tendulkar is also heavily involved with charity and was a member of parliament as well. He is thus also seen as a patriotic and socially responsible person.

Among the prominent brands he has been the ambassador for are Boost, Unacademy, BMW, Castrol and Airtel.

What Makes Him A Successful Brand Ambassador:

5. Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar has been the brand ambassador for several different brands. Aside from his acting, he is a fitness enthusiast and has done a lot of work towards raising awareness about holistic fitness in India. He is also very passionate about social causes and has acted in films such as Pad Man to raise more awareness about them.

He has been the brand ambassador of top Indian companies such as Dabur, Dollar and Sting.

What Makes Him A Successful Brand Ambassador:

• Fitness and Discipline Icon: Akshay Kumar is known for his dedication to fitness and a disciplined lifestyle, making him a natural choice for health, fitness, and wellness brands seeking to promote a healthy, active image.

• Patriotic and Socially Responsible: Kumar's involvement in films with patriotic themes and social causes gives him a strong connection with brands focused on national pride, social responsibility, and meaningful messaging.

• Mass Appeal and Relatability: With a career spanning multiple genres and a relatable personality, Akshay Kumar enjoys mass appeal across age groups and regions, making him a versatile brand ambassador who connects well with a wide audience.

6. Salman Khan

There is no doubt that Salman Khan has one of the biggest fanbases in India. His muscular physique, action scenes, witty dialogue and boyish charm have made him one of the most emulated actors by young men. Known affectionately as bhai, he is adored by millions and the opening weekends of all his films see packed theaters.

His brand endorsements include Hero Honda, Limca, BharatPe and others.

What Makes Him A Successful Brand Ambassador:

7. Katrina Kaif

When the drink Slice is mentioned, one automatically thinks of Katrina Kaif. That is how successful having her as a brand ambassador has been. Her beauty and grace are what make her an incredibly valuable brand ambassador.

Aside from Slice, she has also been the brand ambassador for Lux, Kalyan Jewellers, Veet and Lenskart.

What Makes Her A Successful Brand Ambassador:

• Elegance and Glamour: Katrina Kaif is known for her graceful and glamorous presence, making her an ideal brand ambassador for luxury, beauty, and fashion brands seeking to align with a sophisticated and stylish image.

• Pan-India Appeal: With her ability to connect with diverse audiences across India, Katrina’s pan-Indian appeal allows brands to target a broad spectrum of consumers, from urban centers to smaller towns.

• Versatility and Adaptability: Katrina’s versatility in both high-energy dance performances and serious acting roles makes her adaptable to a variety of brand messages, allowing her to represent products across categories like lifestyle, fitness, and entertainment.

8. Shilpa Shetty

Shilpa Shetty is known for being an ambassador of many brands across sectors. Most recently she became the brand ambassador for detergent brand Selzer. Her image is that of the woman who is career focused but also very much involved with family.

Check Out Our Marketing Activity With Shilpa Shetty and Selzer!

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Some of the other brands she has represented are Yakult, Mamaearth, and Chicnutrix.

What Makes Her A Successful Brand Ambassador:

9. Hrithik Roshan

Few actors have had as much talent as Hrithik Roshan. He is an actor capable of great range, capable of portraying a wide range of characters. He is also one of the most handsome actors, with his fine features and light green eyes. He has also set a standard for men’s physiques, with his incredibly sculpted physique and enviable six pack abs.

The brands he has stepped in as an ambassador for include Burger King, Hero Motocorp, Mountain Dew and Zomato.

What Makes Him A Successful Brand Ambassador:

• Fitness and Physical Excellence: Hrithik Roshan is renowned for his exceptional fitness levels and well-defined physique, making him an ideal ambassador for health, fitness, and sports brands seeking to highlight physical excellence and a rigorous fitness regime.

• Charismatic and Versatile Presence: Known for his charismatic screen presence and versatility in roles ranging from intense drama to energetic dance performances, Hrithik Roshan appeals to a wide audience and can effectively represent a variety of brands.

• Global Appeal: With a significant international fan base and recognition, Hrithik’s global appeal helps brands reach consumers beyond the Indian market, enhancing their visibility and influence on a broader scale.

10. Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan, India’s king of romance, is also one of the most successful brand ambassadors. His everyman appeal makes him relatable to audiences. His charm and warmth also help set the tone for the product to be promoted.

He has been the brand ambassador of major brands such as Nokia, Frooti, Hyundai and Lux.

What Makes Him A Successful Brand Ambassador:

Want a Celebrity As Your Brand Ambassador?

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