There are relationships and then there are some special friendships that hold a special place in our heart. Keeping the spirit of yaari high with unforgettable moments with friends, House of McDowell’s Soda, in partnership with Publicis Groupe India’s Team Spirit, has unveiled its latest campaign, Yaaron Wali Baat 2.0, that celebrates the core philosophy of friendship. Titled 'Karo Kuch Pehli Baar Jab Saath Hon Yaar', the campaign features actor Kartik Aaryan. t2 caught up with the actor for a quick chat on his "firsts", friendship and more. Excerpts...
Hi Kartik! We enjoyed McDowell’s Soda’s Yaaron Wali Baat 2.0 TVC! What made you associate with the product of the brand?
I’ve always loved being part of the House of McDowell’s Soda campaigns — a brand that truly celebrates friendship, something that’s very close to me. Yaaron Wali Baat 2.0 is all about those unforgettable “firsts” you experience with your friends — the first road trip, first time you tried a new adventure, first big dream you dared to chase together. It didn’t feel like an ad, it served as a reminder that life hits different when you have your people by your side. And if there’s one thing I believe in, it’s that yaari makes every story bigger, every risk braver, and every memory better.
'Karo Kuch Pehli Baar Jab Saath Hon Yaar' take us back in time when you did something with your friends that you will remember all your life!
There was this one night in college when my friends and I just took off on a road trip with no plan, no permission, nothing — basically full filmy rebellion. We were driving with the windows down, music loud and somewhere on the highway it started raining. So instead of finding shelter, we just got out and danced in the rain. I remember ending the night at a 24/7 dhaba at 4am, talking about life like we had it all figured out. It was simple and unforgettable, and that first totally unplanned adventure still feels like the definition of freedom for me. Those pehli-baar moments with friends… they become lifetime stories.
The campaign talks about celebrating friendship. What is friendship to you? What is that one quality non-negotiable in a friendship?
For me, friendship is the space where you can just be yourself without any filters. In this industry, you meet a lot of people, but real friends are the ones who keep you rooted. The one quality that’s non-negotiable for me is loyalty — the kind that doesn’t need constant proving. Friends who get your silences, who stand by you in the highs and the lows… that’s real yaari. And that’s exactly what House of McDowell’s Soda celebrates — the friendships that outlive the moments and become memories.
Talking of firsts with friends… did your friends ever encourage you to do something that you normally wouldn’t have?
Absolutely! My friends have pulled me out of my comfort zone more than once. There was a time I was totally shy about speaking in front of people, but they dared me into doing stand-up at a college event. I nearly backed out, but they kept saying: “Tu kar lega, yaar”. I went on stage, cracked jokes about our group, saw people laughing, and in that moment I found a side of me I didn’t know existed.
Your movies Pyaar Ka Punchnama and Sonu ki Titu ki Sweety revolved around friendship and both were big hits! Do you miss playing boy-next-door characters like Sonu and Rajat?
Sonu and Rajat will always feel like friends I’ve lived with! People often quote them to me — that’s when I realise those characters didn’t just belong to me, they belonged to the audience. I am sitting here and talking only because of Sonu and Rajat, so I would definitely love to play such characters again — the kinds that make you laugh, think, and remind you of your own gang of friends.
On the personal front, how do you balance friendships in the industry versus friends from before fame?
I’ve realised one thing — the real ones stay, no matter where they come from. My friends from Gwalior and college know me beyond the limelight, so even if we don’t talk every day, the bond never changes. A random meme, a late-night call… that’s enough to keep it real. In the industry, I have great equations with my peers, we get each other’s madness and crazy schedules. Our catch-ups usually happen on sets or at events, and that rhythm works perfectly.
Is there any must-do ritual when you meet your old friends from college or school?
The reunion officially starts with diving into our favourite comfort food! It’s usually samosas, chai, pakoras — the same combo we survived on in our hostel days. We sit, eat, laugh and roast each other with old stories like nothing’s changed. These simple moments are what keep yaari alive!
Let’s talk about your unconditional love and friendship with Katori (his pet)… what has it taught you?
Honestly, the amount of unconditional love Katori gives me — no human can match that. She wakes me up, stays beside me when I’m down… she’s taught me what true friendship and loyalty really mean.