Vi taps Shah Rukh Khan to front brand refresh and new customer campaign

Vodafone Idea is rolling out a refreshed Vi identity, including a redesigned 3D logo element, with Shah Rukh Khan as campaign face. The telecom operator is positioning the overhaul ahead of upcoming launches and customer-experience initiatives.

— Source publishedTue, 1 Sept, 2026, 20:23 IST·First seen Tue, 1 Sept, 2026, 20:27 IST·Source ET Small Business

What happened

Vodafone Idea (Vi) · Vodafone Idea has appointed Shah Rukh Khan as the face of its refreshed Vi brand campaign, introducing a redesigned 3D logo element. The

Key facts

  • Government stake: around 49%
  • AGR liability after reassessment: Rs 64,046 crore
  • AGR dues frozen as of December 31, 2025: Rs 87,695 crore
  • Statutory payment liabilities as of June 30, 2026: Rs 1.56 lakh crore
  • Payment due to DoT by June 2027: Rs 9,259 crore

Why this matters

Vi’s repositioning may make the operator a more credible commercial partner for device, content, fintech, and distribution alliances seeking national-scale consumer reach around upcoming launches.

What to watch

  • Timing, city coverage, and consumer pricing of Vi's next 5G launches.
  • Month-on-month active subscriber additions, port-in/port-out trends, and ARPU after the campaign rollout.
  • Whether campaign creative makes concrete network or service claims rather than remaining purely image-led.
  • Changes in capex, network partnerships, spectrum deployment, or vendor announcements that support the refreshed promise.
  • Airtel and Jio countercampaigns, porting promotions, and 5G bundle offers in Vi's priority circles.
  • Retailer feedback on store walk-ins, SIM activations, and demand for Vi recharge plans following the launch.
  • Roll out Shah Rukh Khan-led films across TV, digital video, social, retail stores, and regional-language media.
  • Pair the identity refresh with specific consumer launches such as 5G availability announcements, revised prepaid packs, postpaid benefits, or app-led service upgrades.
  • Refresh Vi retail signage, dealer materials, SIM packaging, and digital onboarding to make the new brand identity visible at conversion points.
  • Use campaign traffic to target mobile-number-portability prospects and reactivation of dormant subscribers with limited-period offers.
  • Increase proof-based messaging around network upgrades, coverage, speed, and service resolution to sustain the campaign after initial celebrity-driven attention.