AbhiBus × Mahesh Babu: Brand Campaign
Client: AbhiBus
★ Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu | 3-film campaign | Single-day shoot at Ramoji Film City
2020-01
Overview
Avakkai Studio produced a three-film celebrity TVC campaign featuring Telugu cinema superstar Mahesh Babu for AbhiBus, India's leading online bus ticketing platform. The high-production commercials leveraged Mahesh Babu's mass appeal and trusted screen presence to establish brand credibility, drive user acquisition, and position AbhiBus as the go-to OTA for hassle-free bus travel. Shot in a single day at Ramoji Film City with innovative chroma-floor techniques, the campaign delivered three comedy-led films and a teaser that seamlessly blended star power with creative storytelling.
Brief
Avakkai Studio produced a Three-film celebrity TVC campaign featuring Telugu cinema superstar Mahesh Babu for AbhiBus, India’s leading online bus ticketing platform. The high-production commercials leveraged Mahesh Babu’s mass appeal and trusted screen presence to establish brand credibility, drive user acquisition, and position AbhiBus as the go-to OTA for hassle-free bus travel. Shot in a single day at Ramoji Film City with in indoor green chroma- studio floor , the campaign delivered three comedy-led films and a teaser that seamlessly blended star power with creative storytelling.
Our Concept & Approach
Avakkai Studio along with JWT Hyderabad developed a three-film campaign built on a simple yet powerful promise: booking a bus ticket should be this easy, all year round. The creative strategy leveraged Mahesh Babu’s natural screen presence and comedic timing to tell humour-led stories, each finding its own comic angle around the same core idea — effortless travel with AbhiBus, regardless of season or reason.
To execute a demanding single-day shoot schedule at Ramoji Film City, we employed a controlled studio setup featuring:
- A single actual bus mounted on motorised rigging to simulate motion with multicamera set up rigged inside the bus.
- A green chroma floor for flexible post-production enhancements
- Precise pre-planning to capture three tvc’s, 1 teaser with minimal retakes
This approach allowed us to maximize production value while working within the constraints of a celebrity’s limited availability.
Credits
Client: AbhiBus Agency: JWT Hyderabad Production House: Avakkai.Studio Talent: Mahesh Babu (Brand Ambassador) Location: Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad Format: 3 TVCs + 1 teaser | Comedy genre | Single-day shoot
Outcome & Results
The campaign successfully delivered on all objectives:
- Mass Reach & Credibility: Mahesh Babu’s star power instantly elevated brand trust and recognition across Telugu-speaking markets
- Creative Efficiency: All three films and teaser were delivered on schedule and on brief, despite the intense single-day production timeline
- Brand Positioning: The humour-led narrative effectively communicated AbhiBus’s value proposition — convenience, reliability, and ease of use
- Production Excellence: The innovative use of motorised rigging and chroma-floor techniques proved that high-production value could be achieved within tight schedules
The campaign gave AbhiBus a strong launchpad to build awareness, drive user adoption, and compete confidently in India’s crowded OTA market.