By
Amit Singh Updated 13 Jul, 2026 • Published 23 Feb, 2026
An increasing number of international luxury brands are signing Indian celebrities as global ambassadors as they recognise the rising spending power of India’s growing affluent classes and the massive global Indian diaspora. Legacy houses like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Bentley, Bvlgari and Cartier have appointed stars such as Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, to build stronger cultural resonance with South Asian consumers
Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone is first Indian global ambassador for Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Pottery Barn.
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India has become a significant growth market for global luxury industry. While spending is slowing down in most major economies, in India it is accelerating. India’s luxury market, excluding jewellery, is projected to reach $90 billion by 2030 according to a report by Bain and Co.
To tap into this growth, foreign brands must first understand that India does not function as one single, uniform market. India is a complex amalgamation of a dizzying array of cultures that speak 22 different languages . So how should luxury brands effectively build foundational visibility in India’s diverse landscape?
Cinema and cricket are two pillars that unite India’s diverse population. By leveraging these cultural passions, luxury brands can bridge regional divides and resonate with consumers nationwide, as well as with Indians abroad who remain deeply rooted in their culture. About 34.4 million Indians live overseas – forming the largest and most influential diaspora in the world, even bigger than the Chinese diaspora. South Indian
Up until five years ago, Indian icons were almost entirely absent from the global campaigns of marquee brands. Today, the increasing influence of the high-spending Indian consumer has recalibrated brand priorities. Indian celebrities are no longer restricted to regional roles, and are securing high-profile global appointments.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas: Global Ambassador for Bvlgari, Bentley
Priyanka Chopra Jonas is Bvlgari’s first ever Indian global ambassador
Chopra was among the first Indian actresses from Bollywood to get lead roles not limited to ‘brown’ representation in Hollywood. She played the protagonist in hit American OTT series – Quantico and Citadel. She has been recognised with honours such as the first South Asian actor to win People’s Choice Award, and a spot in Time’s 100 Most Influential People list as well as BBC’s 100 Women.
Bentley Motors named Priyanka Chopra Jonas its new global brand ambassador in April 2026. She is the first female global ambassador in the luxury carmaker’s 105-year history, representing the brand’s modern vision and expanding its reach worldwide.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas has been a Bvlgari Global Brand Ambassador since August 2021
As a Bollywood actress she has a massive multi-cultural following in India and has played lead roles in some of the most successful Indian films. In her homeland, she has won numerous awards including a National Film award and multiple Filmfare awards (India’s Oscars) as well as ‘Padma Shri’, one of India’s highest civilian honours.
On Instagram, Priyanka Chopra is one of the top 10 most followed Indians in the world. She is married to celebrated American singer Nick Jonas. Her domestic and international success facilitated her appointment as a global ambassador for Bulgari in 2021, alongside A-list figures such as Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and Lisa of Blackpink. Her association with Bvlagri continues till date.
Beyond Bulgari, Priyanka has endorsed over 2 dozen global and Indian brands in various segments.
Deepika Padukone: Global Ambassador for Cartier & Louis Vuitton, Pottery Barn
Deepika Padukone is first Indian global ambassador for Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Pottery Barn.
Deepika is one of the highest paid actresses in the Indian film industry. She made her Hollywood debut as the female lead in ‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage’, alongside Vin Diesel. She is the first Indian actress to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2026). Deepika has been featured twice on the cover of TIME magazine and won a spot in their top 100 most influential list. In 2022, as the ambassador for Louis Vuitton, she became the first Indian to unveil the FIFA World Cup trophy during the finals in Qatar.
Deepika boasts of 80.5 million followers on Instagram. She was appointed the first ever Indian global ambassador for Cartier and Louis Vuitton in 2022. In her debut campaign for Louis Vuitton she starred alongside Emma Stone and Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu.
At Cartier, she has served as the official face of major global jewellery campaigns for Le Voyage Recommencé and Nature Sauvage. She has also been a global ambassador for Adidas, Qatar airways and Levi’s.
Although primarily a Hindi movie star, Deepika is popular across India’s multilingual population and the international Indian diaspora as well.
Alia Bhatt: Global Ambassador for Gucci, L’Oréal Paris, Levi’s
Indian actress Alia Bhatt is Gucci’s first Indian global ambassador.
Alia Bhatt made her Bollywood debut in 2012 at the age of 19. In the years since, she has emerged as one of south Asia’s most influential figures delivering unparalleled reach to global brands. Alia is from Bollywood’s well-known Bhatt family. She is married to superstar Ranbir Kapoor, linking her to India’s legendary Kapoor film dynasty.
At the Met Gala red carpet and the Cannes Film Festival she consistently scored top spots in the list of top 10 most-influential global celebrities, outperforming western icons, including Kim Kardashian and Zendaya.
In 2023 she was named Gucci’s first Indian global ambassador. In 2024, she became L’Oréal Paris’s second Indian global ambassador and in 2025 – Levi’s global ambassador. Alia is one of the top 10 most followed Indians on Instagram. She has starred in some of the most profitable films in India, in various local languages, making her a well recognised celebrity across India’s diverse cultures.
She has endorsed over 35 marquee brands (non-luxury) in India alone.
Sonam Kapoor: Global ambassador for Dior
Indian style icon Sonam Kapoor at Dior Fall Show in India.
In 2024, Dior named Indian actress Sonam Kapoor its first South Asian global ambassador. While Sonam has starred in notable Indian films, it is her versatile and distinctive personal style that got her greater international recognition, establishing her as a global fashion icon.
Her association with Dior continues till date. She was a global face for the Dior Capture skincare campaign, along with international stars Charlize Theron, Venus Williams, and Rosamund Pike. Sonam is also IWC Schaffhausen’s India ambassador since 2017.
Kapoor was an Indian ambassador for L’Oréal Paris, representing the brand for several years at the Cannes Film Festival. She has over 35 million followers on Instagram.
Ranveer Singh: Ambassador for Tiffany and Co
Ranveer Singh was the face of Tiffany & Co when it launched its lock collection in India.
Indian actor Ranveer Singh was appointed a ‘Friend of the House’ by Tiffany and Co in early 2023. He fronted the India launch of the Tiffany Lock collection, starring in domestic ads, marking the brand’s first major campaign in the region.
How big is Ranveer Singh’s influence in India and abroad? In 2026, Ranveer Singh played the lead role in Hindi film ‘Dhurandhar’, which made history by grossing over ₹1,300 crore ($155 million) in theaters worldwide. In North America it crossed $21 million, becoming the highest-grossing Indian film ever in that region. Ranveer is Deepika Padukone’s husband.
He has been the Indian face of Swiss watch brand Frank Muller since 2019 and Italian luxury motorcycle Ducati since 2023.
Ranveer Singh’s dynamic public persona translates into exceptional engagement metrics, sustaining a deep connection with audiences both online and offline. He has over 48 million followers on Instagram.
Ishaan Khatter: India Ambassador for Hugo Boss, Messika
Indian millennial actor Ishan Khatter was face of Hugo Boss 2025 global campaign.
Ishaan Khatter is an Indian actor who has starred alongside Nicole Kidman in a small role in the 2024 Netflix mystery drama The Perfect Couple. He has played lead roles in some Hindi films but he has not yet proved his commercial might in the Indian film industry.
In 2025, HUGO Boss known for focusing on emerging talent selected Khatter as the first South Asian icon to feature in its Fall/Winter 2025 global campaign. He has also endorsed Messika jewellery in India.
Ananya Pandey: India Ambassador for Chanel
Gen-Z actress Ananya Panday is Chanel’s first India ambassador.
Ananya Panday, a leading Gen-Z actress from a notable Bollywood background, established her presence through a high-impact debut and a successful OTT premiere on Amazon Prime. While she has built a massive digital following and starred in several Indian films, she is still not considered a super-star in India. Nevertheless, her cultural influence has made her a key figure for marquee luxury brands looking to connect with a younger, Gen-z, global Indian and South Asian audience.
Ananya has 26.7 million followers on Instagram. In 2025 she signed a major partnership with Tanishq Natural Diamonds (top Indian jewellery brand) that aims to target younger buyers in India through her reach. She also endorses Swarovski and American Eagle in India.
MS Dhoni: India Ambassador of Panerai Luxury Watch Brand
In 2018, Swiss-Italian luxury watch brand Panerai signed MS Dhoni, former captain of India’s national cricket team, as its local ambassador in India, for a year. Dhoni has nearly 50 million followers on Instagram but remains largely inactive on the platform, maintaining a rare sense of privacy in the digital age.
He has endorsed over 40 mass and premium brands in India. Dhoni continues to have a massive online and offline following among Cricket fans in India and globally. He is currently the captain of Indian Premier League’s (IPL) team Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and has won several IPL titles. IPL is a popular professional cricket league in India valued at nearly $10 billion
Neeraj Chopra India Ambassador for Omega watches
Neeraj Chopra is an Olympic gold medalist in Javelin. He became a brand ambassador for the Swiss luxury watchmaker Omega in 2024, making him the first Indian track and field athlete to represent the brand. Neeraj has a following of over 9.2 million followers on Instagram. He is among the most popular non-Cricketing sports persons in India.
Amit specialises in data analytics, consumer trends & India luxury market strategies for global brands. Amit is a Gen-Z writer. He previously worked at Reuters & MSN.
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