The campaign captures the spirit of Yaari – celebrating adrenaline, nostalgia, and the unforgettable firsts shared with friends.
● 15th October 2025: House of McDowell’s Soda, in partnership with Publicis Groupe India’s Team Spirit, has unveiled its latest campaign, Yaaron Wali Baat 2.0 — an extension of its core philosophy of celebrating Yaari. Titled ‘Karo Kuch Pehli Baar Jab Saath Hon Yaar’, the campaign celebrates the unforgettable firsts that friends experience together — moments that turn into memories, stories that get retold for years, and experiences that carry the spirit of Yaari forward. It positions McDowell’s Soda as vibrant and aspirational, cementing its place as the fizz that brings friends and moments together”.
The film shows Kartik motivating a hesitant friend to take on a daunting experience he’s never tried before — a metaphor for the courage that friendship inspires. What follows is a playful, high-energy montage where Kartik reimagines some of history’s most iconic firsts — from landing on the moon to inventing social media — all made possible by the power of friendship. These humorous sequences lend the film its light-hearted charm, showing that when friends come together, even the impossible feels within reach.
“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, long-term brand ambassador, said, “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 film marks a new chapter in House of McDowell’s Soda’s journey – one that continues to celebrate the timeless magic of friendship and the unforgettable firsts it inspires. The campaign extends across social media, Out-of-Home, and shopper platforms, positioning House of McDowell’s Soda as a brand that is of, for, and by friendship – aspirational, relatable, and emotionally resonant.
Watch the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_P84yCq_jw
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
About Diageo India
Diageo India is the country’s leading beverage alcohol company and a subsidiary of global leader Diageo Plc. The company manufactures, sells, and distributes an outstanding portfolio of premium brands such as Johnnie Walker, Black Dog, Black & White, VAT 69, Antiquity, Signature, The Singleton, Royal Challenge, McDowell’s No1, Smirnoff, Ketel One, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan and Godawan, an artisanal single malt whisky from India. Headquartered in Bengaluru, our wide footprint is supported by a committed team of over 3000 employees, 35 manufacturing facilities across states and union territories in India, a strong distribution network and a state-of-the-art Technical Centre. Incorporated in India as United Spirits Limited (USL), the company is listed on both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India. For more information about Diageo India, our people, our brands, and our performance, visit us at www.diageoindia.com.
Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, http://www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practices.
