Anuraag Khandelwal

Based in Mumbai

Anuraag Khandelwal is the Chief Creative Officer at 82.5 Communications—an extension of Ogilvy.

He started his career in 1998, as a junior visualiser at Ambiance Advertising, from which he moved to his 12-year-long stint at Ogilvy as a senior visualiser and senior creative director. He then served as the Executive Creative Director and Creative Head at Soho Square, another of Ogilvy group's companies. in 2017, he joined 82.5 Communications as the Executive Creative Director and Mumbai Head, and continues to serve in the agency to date, in the capacity of the Chief Creative Officer.

Anuraag lives by a simple motto: “No matter what, always have fun.”—this has not only shaped his creative journey but also propelled him onto uncharted paths that earned him acclaim.

Some of Anuraag's notable work include Kajaria 'Chhori ki Seena Jori', De Beers 'Second Piercing', and D'Decor ft. Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor. His campaign for Franklin Templeton, 'Change the Soch', bagged a gold and a silver at the Good Ads Matter Awards, India '25. Among his brand clientele are also the likes of Bisleri International, Tata Motors, Cipla, Marico, Cadbury, Vodafone, BCCI, Perfetti, Unilever, Pidilite, SBI, and Piaggio. Notably, he has also helped launch sporting events such as the Indian Premier League, the Indian Soccer League, and the Indian Hockey League.

From winning a Young Cag award in art school to more than 80 national and international accolades, Anuraag’s work has been distinct and commanding. His leadership saw the agency break into India’s top 20 in 2016, while campaigns like the BJP 2014 blitz and Bisleri’s Camels not only won Grand Effies but also transformed brands—Bisleri rising to the #1 ad in the Economic Times Most Trusted Brands study.

Beyond awards, Anuraag has built a reputation as a relentless optimist—full of energy, emotion, and an infectious laugh that challenges stereotypes, with his narratives and conviction. His compassion and creativity came together in the Red Ramp Project, a powerful initiative highlighting accessibility issues faced by the differently-abled, which earned global recognition.

Featured on the cover of Forbes India, Anuraag continues to mentor young talent, nurture ideas, and push boundaries.

Social Media Handles:

- LinkedIn - Anuraag Khandelwal

- Instagram - @anu.the.raag