Summary
- Campaign: “Chhoti ho ya badi, har khushi mein Coca-Cola” (2014).
- Creative Agency: McCann Erickson (led by Prasoon Joshi).
- Director: Anurag Kashyap.
- Production House: Golden Gaddi Films (Guneet Monga).
- Music: Composed by Mikey McCleary and Vishal Khurana.
In 2014, Coca-Cola launched its major “Chhoti ho ya badi, har khushi mein Coca-Cola” (Be it small or big, for every happiness there is a Coca-Cola) campaign to celebrate small moments of everyday joy. The campaign marked the first-ever on-screen pairing of Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Farhan Akhtar for a commercial.
Ad plot
Set in a small-town landscape to appeal to the “masses,” the primary TVC focused on a relatable, light-hearted situation.
- Deepika Padukone and her friend are seen running frantically but eventually missing their college bus on a critical exam day.
- A distressed Deepika laments that failing the exam will result in her father marrying her off, forcing her to “shell peas” in a kitchen for the rest of her life.
- Farhan Akhtar, playing a cycle rickshaw puller who secretly admires her, is woken up by a shopkeeper placing a chilled bottle of Coca-Cola on his face.
- After taking a refreshing sip of Coke, Farhan jumps into action, inviting the girls into his rickshaw. He hands the bottle to Deepika to hold as he pedals furiously to overtake the bus, eventually dropping them off at the college gate just in time.
- He playfully reassures her that he “won’t let her shell peas,” and the ad ends with the signature “Open Happiness” branding.
Reception & Recall
The 2014 campaign was a strategic move by Coca-Cola India to expand beyond urban topography and increase consumption in tier-2 and tier-3 towns. By casting Deepika and Farhan as “everyday people” rather than untouchable superstars, the brand aimed to build an emotional connection with the broader Indian youth.
- Farhan and Deepika were at the peak of their “relatable” stardom. Their lack of “melodrama” in the ads helped the brand stay grounded, appealing particularly to rural audience.
