Gururaj Rao is a Freelance Creative Director and Copywriter. With two decades of experience in the Indian advertising industry, he’s worked on a diverse range of projects, helping brands find their voice and express their essence, often with a side of laughter. 

Guru has worked on brands across multiple categories, including Zepto, Fevicol, Cadbury 5 Star, Zee TV, Netflix, Nerolac Paints, Skoda, SBI, Japan Airlines, Naturals Ice Cream, Sony Sports, Bank of Baroda and Volkswagen. 

Having learned the ropes from some of the best creative minds in agencies like O&M, Publicis, tiqui-taka, DDB, Havas Worldwide, and JWT, Guru understands how to sprinkle humour or emotion into narratives, making sure the message sticks— like glitter at a children’s party: impossible to shake off! 

His work has won several awards, including at the Clios, Abby Awards, Effies and the YoungGuns. He even snagged a win in a nationwide ad scriptwriting competition in 2012, judged by the crème de la crème of Indian advertising, which earned him a trip to the Cannes International Advertising Festival. That win made him realise that an idea can literally take you places.

When he’s not busy crafting ads, Guru enjoys watching movies and test cricket, reading literary fiction and hiking in the Himalayas. He has a soft spot for Pao Bhaji.