IPL 2025’s Smartest Ad Play? Dream11 Turns Aamir vs Ranbir into Brand Gold

In a season full of cricket chaos and brand noise, Dream11 hit a sixer with its IPL 2025 ad campaign. Featuring Aamir Khan and Ranbir Kapoor in a rare comedic face-off, the ad doesn’t just entertain—it rewrites the rules of celebrity endorsement.

Bollywood Meets Banter: A Bold Casting CoupGetting either Aamir or Ranbir to headline your brand is already a flex. But getting them to joke about their height, mistaken identities, and looks? That’s next-level. Dream11 pulled it off by leaning into self-deprecating humour—a rare trait in Bollywood branding, where image is sacred.

The ad begins with a classic case of mistaken identity—Aamir calls Ranbir “Ranbir Singh,” kicking off a series of comedic escalations. From Jadeja bowling bouncers to digs about handsomeness, it’s not just funny—it’s memorable. And it’s directed by Nitesh Tiwari, which explains the storytelling finesse.

Marketing Muscle Meets Creative IntelligenceBehind the jokes lies serious strategy. Dream11 CMO Vikrant Mudaliar explains how humour became the campaign’s core. Instead of banking only on star power, the creative team built a universe of witty, connected narratives that stand alone yet enhance each other—classic "narrative loop" play.

Multiplatform MasteryWith TV visibility during IPL and digital content built for virality, Dream11 ensured the ad wasn't just seen—it was shared. Tilt Brand Solutions balanced mainstream mass reach with niche digital engagement.

Why This Ad Worked

• Humanised celebrities: Audiences love relatability.

• Triggered fan banter: Aamir vs Ranbir? Bollywood Twitter had thoughts.

• Flexible formats: Standalone ads with deeper context if you’ve watched them all.

• Authenticity > Ego: Self-roasts are the new flex.
  

ConclusionIn an IPL season overflowing with campaigns, Dream11 turned two Bollywood icons into storytellers. The result? A campaign that’s as strategic as it is hilarious. This is how you win brand loyalty—one joke at a time.