A.R. Rahman named brand ambassador for Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea

Composer A.R. Rahman, who has won both an Oscar and a Grammy, has been appointed as the face of Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea, a tea brand owned by Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL). The appointment was announced on 2 November 2026, alongside a new brand platform called 'Awaken Your Masterpiece'.

The campaign film shows Rahman stuck in a creative block. He then makes a cup of Taj Mahal Tea. The pause helps him find a new melody, and he ends the film with the brand's 'Wah Taj!' catchphrase.

Ishtpreet Singh, VP Beverages at HUL, said the brand's bond with music goes back to the late Ustad Zakir Hussain. "There could be no better custodian than A.R. Rahman," Singh said, calling him an artist whose genius is "truly one in a thousand". Singh compared Rahman's search for the right note with the brand's process of picking tea leaves from thousands and blending them.

The tea brand has long linked itself with music and craftsmanship. Its tagline 'Hazaaron Mein Ek', meaning one in a thousand, has been part of its identity for more than six decades. Its earlier campaigns were fronted by tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, who died in December 2024. Ogilvy India, the agency behind the campaign, said the brand's story of finesse and the search for excellence fits Rahman well. Harshad Rajadhyaksha and Kainaz Karmakar, the agency's group chief creative officers, said the campaign was led by their team, with Fritz Gonsalves and Jayesh Raut. The film was shot by Prakash Varma of Nirvana Films.

The campaign's focus is on the idea that a short break can help creative people regain focus.

It is not yet known how long the campaign will run, or what the financial terms of Rahman's role are.