Mumbai: Nihar Naturals Coconut Hair Oil, the market leader in east India, launched its latest campaign challenging the culture of beauty stereotyping ingrained in society.

Women are often subjected to perceptions of being ‘more capable’ or ‘less capable’ based on their physical appearance and their choice of hairstyle. Nihar Naturals has always been at the forefront of challenging stereotypes. In 2015, Nihar partnered with Neilson to launch a nationwide study #IAMCapable, to build awareness amongst women about this culture of beauty stereotyping. The report drew attention to the biases faced by Indian Women today – 64% of Indian Women have agreed that judgements passed on them has affected their ability to reach their true potential.

BBH has conceptualised the campaign, which reiterates Nihar Natural’s brand purpose & takes the conversation a notch higher. Featuring long-term brand ambassador Vidya Balan, the campaign drives a strong message that a woman’s capability should not be judged based on the choice of her hair style. It goes on to state that beautiful hair is not a sign of capability, it is only a sign of a potent hair oil.

Marico Limited CMO Anuradha Aggarwal said, “Over the years Nihar Naturals through its various campaigns has communicated that a woman’s hair cannot be a parameter of judging her or her capability in anyway. This year’s campaign talks about how ‘Beautiful hair is not a sign of a woman’s capability, it is only a sign of a potent hair oil.’”

Vidya Balan added “This film through different creative sequences beautifully tries breaking yet another stereotype of judging women and their professions basis their hairstyles."

BBH India CEO & managing partner Subhash Kamath said, “Nihar Naturals' hair care category is a very competitive and cluttered one. So it’s quite a challenge to create a differentiated brand idea."

BBH India executive creative director Rajesh Mani added, “Nihar Naturals has, over the years, taken a humorous dig at societal judgements on women’s hair and equating it with their capability. So the TVC is like a playful theatre of the absurd. The photo studio and the changing of backgrounds according to a woman’s hair style bring about the subconscious judgements that people make about women."