Apple's first Indian ad featuring Samir Soni goes viral ahead of iPhone 16 launch. Watch

Apple in its 'It's Glowtime' event is set to launch new products today.

As anticipation builds for Apple’s 2024 event today, a 28-year-old advertisement from the tech giant's early days in India has resurfaced, going viral on social media and stirring a wave of nostalgia. The ad, originally aired on Doordarshan in 1996, marks Apple’s first major attempt to tap into the Indian market—a full two decades before it began producing India-focused iPhone ads in 2016.

Set in a typical 1990s office, the ad features actor Samir Soni as a confident young professional using a Power Macintosh. The storyline unfolds as a senior executive, clutching a Windows floppy disk, enters the room in search of a PC to run it. Soni offers his Mac, much to the executive’s skepticism.

The executive dismisses the Mac as not being a "serious business computer." In a clever twist, Soni removes a fluffy toy from the top of his Mac, asking, "Does that help?" after he successfully runs the disk.

Found Apple's 1st (?) Indian ad film for the Power Macintosh, apparently aired on Doordarshan in 1996 a full twenty years before it started making India-focussed iPhone ads again in 2016. pic.twitter.com/gHx0mzYtkx Neil (@neilshroff) November 29, 2023

After a long hiatus from India-specific marketing, Apple re-entered the scene in 2016 with a series of advertisements tailored for the Indian audience, coinciding with the growing popularity of the iPhone.

Apple is set to launch new products in India today in its much anticipated ‘It’s Glowtime’ event where the iPhone 16 and smartwatches are almost a certain bet. Mac devices and iPad upgrades and launches generally take place in November. The event can be livestreamed on Apple’s official website and YouTube channel at 10:30 pm IST.