Ad industry doyen Piyush Pandey dies after brief illness
Mumbai, Oct 24 (PTI): Piyush Pandey, advertising industry legend who was behind a number of iconic campaigns, died in the early hours of Friday, his family said. He was 70.
His sister Ila Arun, an actor, said Pandey breathed his last at 5.50 am on Friday at a private hospital in Mumbai, where he was undergoing treatment for the last few days after complaining of respiratory complications.
"He was very fond of sports and used to describe our family as a team of 11, including nine siblings and our parents. Piyush was the naughtiest among all and the wittiest," Arun told PTI.
Pandey, who represented the Rajasthan cricket team in the Ranji Trophy, was behind a number of iconic campaigns, including those for brands such as Cadbury, Asian Paints, and Fevicol. He is credited to have advised on the communication strategies for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2014 election campaign.
He was awarded the Padma Shri -- the country's fourth highest civilian honour -- in 2016 in recognition of his achievements.
"He made a monumental contribution to the world of advertising and communications," the PM wrote in a condolence message on the microblogging site X.
"I will fondly cherish our interactions over the years," the PM added.
Tributes for Pandey, who had also penned the iconic 'Mile Sur Mera Tumhara' song celebrating the rich diversity of the country, flowed in from all across.
Billionaire Gautam Adani, the second richest Indian, said Pandey was more than just an advertising legend.
"He was the voice that made India believe in its own story. He gave Indian advertising its self-confidence, its soul, its 'swadeshi' swagger," Adani wrote on his X account.
Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal condoled the death of the creative genius.
Calling Pandey a "titan and legend" of Indian advertising, Sitharaman said he transformed communication by "bringing everyday idioms, earthy humour and genuine warmth".
Stating that she had interacted with Pandey on various occasions, the Finance Minister said his legacy will continue to inspire generations.
Her Union Cabinet colleague Goyal said Pandey was a phenomenon in the world of advertising and his creative genius redefined storytelling.
"To me, he was a friend whose brilliance shone through his authenticity, warmth, and wit," Goyal, who handles the commerce portfolio, said.
Industrialist Anand Mahindra said Pandey has left "gigantic footprints" on the ad industry, recollecting that the adman's "hearty laughs and irrepressible zest for life" will be remembered more than the brands he built.
Uday Kotak, the richest Indian banker, recalled his association, saying the Kotak Mahindra Bank was launched in 2003 with a campaign made by Pandey, who had described banking as "common sense".
"Amazing out of the box thinker and a humble person. He weaved creativity with an Indian context," Kotak wrote on X.
The Jaipur-born Pandey was advising his agency Ogilvy for the last few years, having taken a break from an active role. Pandey and his wife used to reside in central Mumbai's Shivaji Park neighbourhood.
His last rites will be performed at the Shivaji Park crematorium at 10.30 am on Saturday, Ila Arun added.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
