Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachchan were among the many who attended the last rites of advertising stalwart Piyush Pandey at Shivaji Park Crematorium in Mumbai on Saturday, following his death on Friday due to pneumonia complications.
Pandey, 70, began his career in 1982 at Ogilvy & Mather India as a trainee account executive before moving into creative roles. Over four decades, he transformed Indian advertising with innovative campaigns that remain etched in public memory, including Asian Paints’ ‘Har Khushi Mein Rang Laaye’, Cadbury’s ‘Kuch Khaas Hai’, and Fevicol’s iconic ‘Egg’ film.
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Tributes poured in from across the industry. Shah Rukh Khan wrote, “Working and being around Piyush Pandey always felt effortless and fun. He carried his genius so lightly and revolutionised the ad industry in India. Rest in peace, my friend (sic).” Anand Mahindra recalled Pandey’s “hearty laugh” and “irrepressible zest for life”, adding, “Even in the serious business of persuasion, joy and humanity must never be forgotten (sic).”
Pandey’s achievements were recognised internationally. In 2004, he became the first Asian jury president at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, later receiving the CLIO Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. He was also honoured with the Padma Shri, becoming the first figure from Indian advertising to receive the national accolade.
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