House of McDowell’s Soda Celebrates Firsts in Friendship Ft. Brand ambassador Kartik Aaryan in New ‘Yaaron Wali Baat 2.0’ Campaign

New Delhi(09/10/2025): 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. 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.