For a long time, celebrities have been used to promote automotive products globally. In India, which has now become the world’s largest two-wheeler market, several celebrities endorsed automotive products, even when the market was still in its early stages.

Here are five such advertisements from the past that will evoke nostalgic memories of young superstars like Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan.

Shahrukh Khan – LML Freedom

Shahrukh Khan, a well-known celebrity, has appeared in various commercials endorsing a wide range of products including the brand Hyundai. One of the products he endorsed was the LML Freedom Topper, which was aimed at the commuter bike segment buyers during that time. In the advertisement, Shahrukh played a dual role to showcase the bike’s features such as high fuel efficiency and decent power.

Vidya Balan – Bajaj Kawasaki Caliber

Bajaj-Kawasaki has a rich history in India, having launched the Caliber commuter bike in 1998. The following year, in 1999, rising star Vidya Balan was featured in an advertisement for the bike. The Caliber gained popularity due to its reliability, with power derived from a 112cc four-stroke engine producing 7.5 Bhp and 8.1 Nm of torque. The bike became well-known as the “Hoodibaba Bike” after a catchy advertisement for the Caliber 115 was released.

Salman Khan – Hero Honda CD100

This advertisement dates back to 1985, the year when the CD100 was launched in India. Being one of the first four-stroke bikes in the country, it faced stiff competition from the well-established two-stroke market and witnessed low sales. To promote the bike, Hero-Honda roped in a young Salman Khan, who was seen riding the bike on a long-distance route. Eventually, the CD100 gained immense popularity and became one of the best-selling motorcycles in India. Salman Khan became the brand ambassador of Suzuki India and owns motorcycles like the Hayabusa.

Aamir Khan – Mahindra Stallio

Mahindra had a diverse range of products in the two-wheeler segment in India, but none of them gained widespread popularity. In an attempt to promote their Stallio commuter bike, Mahindra roped in veteran Bollywood actor Aamir Khan for an advertisement. The advert parodied the Karizma advertisement featuring Hrithik Roshan, in which he retrieves his cap from a dust storm.

Hrithik Roshan – Hero Honda Karizma

Once, Hero Honda Karizma was the fastest affordable motorcycle on Indian roads. The brand’s ambassador, Hrithik Roshan, promoted several products for the company, including the Karizma, which became an icon. The motorcycle came with a 223cc, single-cylinder engine generating 17 BHP, which was considered impressive at the time.

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