Comms Pros Share Their 'Pyaar' for 'PR' this Valentine's Day

Shraddha Jadhav, business head & chief strategist, Ashwini Publicity shares, "I didn’t just step into PR—I grew up with it. Watching my dad, late Shri Ajay Bane, build Ashwini Publicity with sheer passion and an unstoppable zest for storytelling was my first real lesson in the power of communication.

Some of the most remarkable milestones of his career include his work with iconic stars of Marathi Cinema like Dada Kondke, Smita Talwalkar, Laxmikant Berde, and Bharat Jadhav and his legendary PR campaign for ‘Shwaas’, which became India’s official entry to the Oscars in 2004. He was also deeply involved in promoting Marathi cinema internationally, creating waves with PR campaigns that redefined how films were marketed and received globally. 

I saw how he nurtured relationships, how he turned challenges into opportunities, and how every campaign he worked on wasn’t just about publicity—it was about creating something meaningful. That fire, that vision, and that deep-rooted passion became a part of me.
Today, as I carry forward his legacy, I do so with the same love for PR that he instilled in me. It’s more than a career—it’s a calling, and it all started with him."

Khamsang Chetia Phukon – founder & CEO – JonoJug Communications says, "PR is my first PYAAR……In PR, you are not just the planner- you are also the venue scout, media coordinator, gift organizer, sometimes the therapist, punching bag and what not. 

In just 3 days I had to pull off a major product launch: the story, booked a 5-star venue, went on back-to-back media rounds, and somehow made it all happen with zero sleep. The result? 50+ media in attendance, flawless event and glowing press coverage.

The one downside? An unnecessary client team member deciding the food wasn’t up to their ‘standards’—as if I was feeding wedding guests. Sir, I was running on fumes—I didn’t even eat! This wasn’t my wedding; you weren’t my picky uncle judging the caterer. But honestly? I’d do it all over again, because PR is crazy, unpredictable, and exhausting… and I love every second of it!" The funny part was that I was the client and PR head for that product company and had to manage the end-to-end of that launch."

PS: "My firm's name, "JonoJug is from my native language Assamese, which means 'connecting with people' in short. Public Relations is Jono Xonjug in Assamese."

Samriddhi Bhal, account manager - PR, Kaizzen shares, "One unforgettable moment in my career was handling a crisis for an education client specialising in competitive exams. A massive online exam hacking racket came to light, raising serious doubts about the brand’s credibility and results. A top-tier publication questioned the brand, but we swiftly turned the narrative around by presenting proof of its transparent processes.

We organized a press conference, issued a detailed media statement, and personally reached out to all publications to clarify the situation. The investigation confirmed the brand’s integrity, and strict action was taken against the culprits. This experience highlighted the impact of swift and strategic crisis management in protecting a brand’s reputation.

Moments like these remind me why I love PR. It’s not just about managing perceptions; it’s about making real change, even in tough times."

Bhavya Manchanda, account executive from SPAG FINN Partners, Bengaluru, shares, "A year into PR, perhaps still too early to claim with certainty the 'love' moment, but something truly shifted within me when, while working on a campaign, I saw how a simple, well-timed message sparked organic media conversations—not just around the brand but also for the meaningful change it was advocating. 

 And, of course, the relentless high I feel every time a pitch converts and the brand's message is effectively delivered keeps me hooked. Having chosen this as a full-time career, it has become an enduring journey, continuously unraveling its magic and offering me new reasons to fall deeper in love."

Manjuu Rangarajan, founder and CEO, BrandiT Communications shares, "When I was with Bombay Times, i was in touch with quite a few PR agencies who used to come to us for brand promotions and when i heard from them how they take the brand story to the audience through the relevant media, made me fall in love with PR. 

That's my Pyaar for PR moment and even today - when someone asks me what do you do - my reply is always "Hum Pyaar Karte Hain"

Vidura Arya, assistant account manager, Concept PR, shares her pyaar for PR moment, "Hero Vired has been the most interesting and challenging brand I have worked on so far, making me truly proud of my role as a PR professional.

The brief was to position the brand among the leading ed-tech companies for upskilling and building the workforce of the future. In 2023, when ed-tech funding hit an all-time low and Byju’s crisis overshadowed the entire sector, we built Hero Vired’s narrative story by story.

Thanks to the brilliant Adfactors team I worked with, I learnt what a true PR machinery is. We went all in while keeping an eye on targeted deliverables set by the client—leveraging industry stories, exploring narratives with targeted keywords, producing media intelligence reports tracking six competitors monthly, and conducting comprehensive daily news reports.

The real game-changer was the survey report, 'Future of the Skills Landscape 2024', which secured a wire flash and over 50 stellar media coverages. This was my ‘wow’ moment in PR, demonstrating how to establish thought leadership and credibility for a brand. We executed the survey end-to-end—crafting the questions, targeting the right audience, analysing responses, compiling results, and drafting and disseminating the press release.

The survey not only made headlines but also sparked conversations about the need for continuous learning, indirectly encouraging people to invest in upskilling."

Bhakti Biswas, senior executive - PR & Client Servicing, Morning Star Brandcom, says, "I still vividly remember the moment I fell more in love with PR. As part of the COVID era, we were doing an influencer outreach campaign for a lifestyle brand's Valentine's Day initiative. The concept was simple yet powerful—a mother and daughter visit the salon at our client's location and have an experience there. Then, they share their experience about health and safety measures on Instagram, Facebook, and even YouTube.

This was a time when customers were unwilling to enter salons, so this campaign told them that the well-being of the customer is the most important thing. The content hit home, generating a lot of engagement and strengthening trust in the brand. Watching our strategy come to life, seeing the positive response from audiences, and ultimately impressing the client with our deliverables made it an unforgettable moment in my PR journey.

That moment reevaluated why I chose PR in the first place - it's not about just media coverage or managing a crisis. It's about telling stories, sculpting reputations, and leaving impacts."