Piyush Pandey, India’s most celebrated ad guru and Padma Shri awardee, passed away at 70. Known for his iconic campaigns for Fevicol, Cadbury, and the slogan “Ab ki baar Modi sarkar,” his legacy forever transformed Indian advertising.
Piyush Pandey, a legendary figure in Indian advertising, died at the age of 70.
Mumbai, October 24, 2025 — One of the best visionaries in Indian advertising has died. Piyush Pandey, who developed some of India’s most iconic and moving ad campaigns, died in Mumbai at the age of 70. The news of his death has left corporations, fans, and the creative community in mourning for the end of an era.
A Trip That Changed Advertising in India
Piyush Pandey was born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in 1955. He started working at Ogilvy & Mather (now Ogilvy India) in 1982. Over the next forty years, he changed the way ads talked to Indian consumers by using warmth, humor, and a thorough understanding of Indian culture.
Pandey put storytelling at the center of brand communication, from the famous Fevicol “Jod tootega nahin” campaign that sold glue to the Cadbury “Kuch Khaas Hai Zindagi Mein” campaign that celebrated everyday India. As the Executive Chairman of India and Global Chief Creative Officer at Ogilvy, he made the firm known for its creative work that was based on Indian culture.
The Voice Behind India’s Most Popular Slogans
Pandey wrote many taglines that people in India still remember today. The political slogan “Ab ki baar Modi sarkar” is one of his most renowned works. It was used in the 2014 general election campaign. He has built brand voices for Asian Paints, ICICI Bank, Raymond, and Vodafone that will last forever.
His simple but deep attitude was, “Speak the language of the people, not at them, but with them.”
Awards, honors, and recognition around the world
Piyush Pandey received the Padma Shri in 2016, one of India’s highest civilian awards, for his amazing work. The Economic Times has awarded him “Most Influential Creative Person,” making him the first Asian to get this honor. He also appeared on worldwide advertising power lists many times.
Ogilvy India won many Cannes Lions under his leadership, which put Indian creativity on the world stage.
Tributes Are Coming In
After he died, corporate leaders, Bollywood stars, and creative people all sent their tributes on social media. Anand Mahindra, an industrialist, hailed him as a man with “an irrepressible zest for life,” while hundreds of coworkers called him a “mentor, storyteller, and friend.”
A Legacy That Will Never Go Away
Piyush Pandey has an impact that goes well beyond advertising. His work connected urban and rural India and showed that the best ways to market are through emotion, simplicity, and cultural truth. His legacy still inspires generations of authors, artists, and dreamers, even after he died.
One thing is for sure as India recalls this creative genius: there will never be another Piyush Pandey.
At News Heaven, we remember Piyush Pandey not just as an adman, but as a creative soul who taught India to dream, laugh, and connect—one campaign at a time. His legacy will live on in every story that inspires emotion and truth.
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