Advertising legend Piyush Pandey has passed away at the age of 70. The news has sent shockwaves through the Indian advertising industry, where Pandey was regarded as a visionary and a pioneer for over four decades. He died on Friday, October 24, 2025, after suffering from an infection. His last rites will be performed on Saturday in Mumbai.
Born in Jaipur in 1955, Pandey was a multifaceted personality. Before dedicating himself to advertising, he played Ranji Trophy cricket for Rajasthan and even worked briefly as a tea taster. He completed his schooling at St. Xavier's School, Jaipur, and earned a postgraduate degree in History from St. Stephen's College, Delhi. His family was deeply rooted in the arts; his siblings include film director Prasoon Pandey and singer-actor Ila Arun. He is survived by his wife, Nita Pandey.
Pandey joined Ogilvy & Mather India (now Ogilvy India) in 1982 as a trainee account executive before transitioning to the creative department. He rose through the ranks to become National Creative Director, Executive Chairman (India), and Chief Creative Officer Worldwide. Pandey is credited with shaping a distinctively Indian voice in advertising, moving away from Westernized tones and rooting campaigns in the country's culture, language, and emotions.
Pandey's work includes iconic campaigns for brands like Fevicol, Cadbury, Asian Paints, and Vodafone. Memorable campaigns such as Cadbury's "Kuch Khaas Hai" and Asian Paints' "Har Khushi Mein Rang Laye" became ingrained in Indian pop culture. He also created the "Ab ki baar, Modi sarkar" slogan for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2014 election campaign. Beyond advertising, Pandey contributed to national integration by writing the lyrics for "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara".
Interestingly, Pandey also ventured into acting, appearing in the 2013 John Abraham starrer "Madras Cafe," where he played the role of a cabinet secretary. He also appeared in ICICI Bank's Magic Pencil Project videos. Furthermore, he co-wrote the screenplay for the film "Bhopal Express".
Pandey's contributions to advertising have been widely recognized. He was named the most influential man in Indian advertising for eight consecutive years by The Economic Times. In 2016, he was awarded the Padma Shri, and in 2024, he received the LIA Legend Award. In 2018, he and his brother Prasoon Pandey became the first Indians to win the Lions Lifetime Achievement award at Cannes. In September 2023, Pandey transitioned to the role of Chief Advisor at Ogilvy.
The advertising world mourns the loss of a visionary who transformed ordinary campaigns into storytelling masterpieces. His legacy continues to inspire generations of creatives to connect with audiences through impactful and relatable campaigns.
