Chanel has named Indian actress Ananya Panday as its ambassador for India. With this appointment, the heritage luxury brand aims to strengthen its presence in the Indian market and align with a face that speaks to a young demographic.

“Beyond grateful and excited for my journey with Chanel The first ever brand ambassador for and from India  Dreams really do come true,” tweeted Ananya Pandey. 

The 26-year-old is one of her generation’s most prominent actors and fashion icons. Daughter of actor Chunky Panday and reality TV personality Bhavana Pandey, she has earned critical acclaim for her choice of projects and performances in web series ‘Call Me Bae’ (2024) and films ‘CTROL’ (2026), ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’ (2023) and ‘Gehraiyaan’ (2022).

Chanel, in an exclusive statement to The Business of Fashion, said, “Ananya characterises a generation of evolving tastes and fiercely independent identities who navigate the world with their curiosities. Her values resonate with Chanel, making her the perfect choice to represent the house.”

Annual luxury goods spending by Indian consumers is expected to triple by 2030, reaching €25 to €30 billion ($28-32 billion), per Bain and Company. Aligning with Ananya Panday underscores the luxury heritage luxury brand’s efforts to engage the young generation. With over 25 million followers on social media, Ananya’s influence transcends cinema and her appointment is symbolic of India’s increasing importance in global luxury fashion.

Ananya Panday is also the face of Swarovski and has shot for Jimmy Choo’s India campaigns while endorsing a diverse portfolio of brands like Lakmé, Beats and Timex. She joins the list of Indian celebrities who have become brand ambassadors of international brands. Actor Sonam Kapoor is associated with Dior and Alia Bhatt is the ambassador of Gucci, while Deepika Padukone became the first Indian ambassador for Louis Vuitton. Aiswarya Rai, on the other hand, has been the global ambassador for L’Oréal for decades.

RELATED CONTENT

Chanel Announces Matthieu Blazy As Its New Artistic Director

Chanel Acquires Majority Stake In Grey Mer

Chanel’s efforts to penetrate the Indian market

Chanel has a significant presence in India, with a flagship boutique in New Delhi, fragrance and beauty stores across key cities, multiple airport retail locations, and a recently launched e-commerce platform. This includes seven fragrance and beauty stores in cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Gurugram, as well as three travel retail outposts in major airports. 2025 plans include a second fragrance and beauty boutique in Mumbai, as well as a beauty and fragrance boutique in Bengaluru and a travel retail boutique in Bengaluru’s international airport.

This move aligns with India’s burgeoning middle class and increasing disposable income, positioning beauty and fragrance products as accessible entry points to luxury brands. Additionally, Chanel has restructured its operations by bringing partner-managed beauty and fragrance stores under its own entity, allowing for better alignment with local consumer preferences. By expanding into this segment in the Indian market, Chanel reduces its dependency on fashion luxury revenues and reinforces the brand’s legacy of excellence and exclusivity.

In August 2024, Chanel launched its dedicated e-commerce platform in India, offering a curated selection of fragrances, skincare, makeup, and eyewear. This initiative enables the luxury brand to reach clients in cities like Kolkata, Pune, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The online platform features personalised services, including complimentary samples and the facility to book appointments at local boutiques. Chanel’s strategic expansion into both physical retail and e-commerce underscores its commitment to building brand equity and meeting the evolving demands of India’s digitally savvy clientele, ranging from Ultra High Net Worth individuals to discerning Gen Z.

Chanel continues its upward trajectory

Luxury goods firm Chanel was founded in 1910 by legendary French fashion designer- Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel- in Paris. Her simple elegant designs inspired by menswear and active wear rewrote the maxim of Fashion — particularly the skirt suit, the little black dress and iconic fragrance Chanel No. 5. Today Chanel is a privately held company owned by Alain and Gerard Wertheimer- grandchildren of Pierre Wertheimer- an early business partner of Coco Chanel.

Per a company release, Chanel delivered record revenues in 2023, with sales up 16 percent at comparable rates to $19.7 billion and operating profit of $6,407 million, an increase of 10.9 percent compared to 2022.

Philippe Blondiaux, Global Chief Financial Officer, commented, “Chanel delivered another strong financial performance in 2023, with double-digit growth across all categories. Sales increased in each of our markets as retail teams continued to nourish relationships with our local clients, while also embracing the continued return of tourist travel around the world.”

“Chanel continues to contribute positively to the environment and the communities in which we operate,” said Leena Nair, Global Chief Executive Officer, Chanel. “Our House Sustainability Ambition outlines our focus on restoring nature and climate, investing in circularity, supporting those in our supply chain and promoting the autonomy of women. We are proud of our new Net-Zero 2040 targets validated by the SBTi, which will underpin the continued transformation of our business.”

Chanel continued to invest in capital expenditure in 2023.This primarily related to the retail distribution network, including the opening of the twin boutique in Milan, the reopening of the flagship in Beverly Hills and the expansion of the Chanel and Moi Les Ateliers. Chanel is also establishing London as a hub for global connection and collaboration for the company, with the signing of a twenty-year agreement for a new global headquarters. With the evolution of technology and AI, investment in information technology remains a priority, ensuring continued development of business operations and innovation in client experience.