Shah Rukh Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, AR Rahman, and Mary Kom come together for Zomato ad leaving the internet abuzz - watch video

A legendary lineup of Shah Rukh Khan, cricketer Jasprit Bumrah, music maestro AR Rahman, and boxing icon Mary Kom joined hands to feature in an arguably boldest advertisement yet. The Zomato ad was shared CEO Deepinder Goyal, who claimed it is less about food and more about the fire that fuels greatness.

The nearly 90-second video opens with a silhouette of Jasprit Bumrah preparing to bowl, followed by striking visuals of Shah Rukh Khan seated regally, Mary Kom in action, and AR Rahman lost in his music. But instead of showcasing glamour, the film dives deep into grit, dedication, and the unseen struggles that have shaped these icons.

“What’s their secret ingredient? The secret sauce to greatness?” the narrator questions. Intercut with archival footage and moments of real emotional triumph, the voiceover answers, “They know the taste of sweat. The salt of tears. They wake up when it’s dark, show up when it’s hard.” The ad finishes with a compelling line, “The secret ingredient is hustle. Fuel your hustle. Zomato.”
Deepinder Goyal, while posting the video on X (formerly Twitter), emphasised the deeper philosophy behind the campaign. “This isn’t an ad. It’s a belief in effort over everything else,” he wrote. “We’re not here to celebrate the stars, but the fire that built them... While food is just the fuel.”

He further reflected on the millions of Zomato users ordering meals between meetings, parental duties, studies, workouts, or creative pursuits, all united by effort and ambition.

The response to the ad was largely positive. “What a banger! Finally someone pivots to Nike mode,” wrote one user, referencing Nike’s iconic motivational branding. Another praised the message, “Effort fuels dreams — every single day.”