Let’s be honest — brand collabs didn’t start with Instagram reels and cringe influencer skits. Back in the glorious Bollywood days, brands didn’t ask for promotions… they just got written into the script. Yup. No hashtags. No ‘Link in bio’. Just Paresh Rawal yelling about pizza and Shah Rukh flexing a Nokia phone like it’s an Oscar.
So here’s our tribute to the OG product placements that made brands memorable — not through algorithms, but pure desi cinema masala.
1. Domino’s – Phir Hera Pheri
If you thought “30 minutes nahi to free” was a slogan, think again. It was a threat. Baburao Ganpatrao Apte (legend, visionary brand ambassador) made sure every Domino’s delivery boy in India lived in constant fear.
“Time ho gaya, ab toh free milega”
No cap, Domino’s should’ve just made him their official mascot.Sales? Skyrocketed.
Pizza? Burnt, probably.
Delivery boys? Still traumatized.
2. Tide – Chup Chup Ke
What do you get when you mix Rajpal Yadav, a dhobi ghat, and Tide?
Comedy gold.
In Chup Chup Ke, they actually say:
“Sasta, accha, tikau sabun — TIDE!”
I mean…if that’s not peak marketing, what is? The man compared Tide to a life philosophy. Honestly, Tide should’ve launched a motivational campaign:
“Tide jaisa ban, zindagi mein tikau reh.”
3. Bournvita – Krrish
Before protein shakes, before creatine, before gym bros… there was Bournvita.
And it didn’t need Hrithik lifting weights — just lifting hopes of Indian moms everywhere.
“Beta, Bournvita piyo — Krish jaise strong banoge.”
No one cared about diets or workouts — as long as you drank Bournvita, you were practically ready to jump off a cliff and land like a superhero.
Forget superpowers — this was India’s original health tonic flex.
4. Nokia – Chennai Express
SRK + Action + Romance + … a full-blown Nokia ad in the middle of the movie.
You’re watching the train fight scene and bam — suddenly he’s zooming into Deepika’s picture like he’s using a DSLR.
Did it feel forced? 100%.
Did we all still want a Nokia Lumia after the movie? Also 100%.
“Don’t underestimate the power of a common man…with a Lumia.”
5. Maruti Suzuki – Mere Dad Ki Maruti
This one wasn’t a placement — it was a full-on movie-length advertisement.
The plot?
Guy steals his dad’s Maruti to impress a girl.
Result?
Maruti becomes the symbol of swag + sanskaar.
Honestly, after this film, every middle-class dad said:
“Mujhe Maruti chahiye… aur beta, tu door reh.”
And That’s a Wrap (Cut!)
Before reels and retargeting, before UGC and carousel posts, Bollywood was out there doing next-level brand building. The actors sold emotions, but the products? They stuck with us forever.
So next time someone tells you only influencers can push brand awareness, just say:
“Baburao ne 2006 mein kar diya tha woh jo aaj tum content calendar mein plan kar rahe ho.”
Written by Team HASHTAGHOOK
.