MUMBAI: Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries’ current brand strategy and marketing communication president – Kaushik Roy’s film Apna Asman is due for release this Friday.

Although the small budget film made in Rs 35 million (Rs 3.5 crores) does not boast of ‘stars,’ Roy has managed to rope in big brands such as Tata Motors, Nerolac and Phillips for in-film advertising.

Roy has earlier worked with Mudra as chief creative officer, but modestly says that it was really not his adman profile that helped him rope in brands. “Films of this nature generally do not get advertisers, but in Apna Asman they have all been well incorporated,” says Roy.

For instance when Irrfan Khan and Shobana renovate their house, they use Nerolac paints to do so. Tata Indica has been shown initially as Irrfan Khan’s second hand car and after he gets promoted at work and his standard of living increases he buys Tata Indigo. Phillips bartered for three TV sets, which were used in the film. Roy has also worked at Phillips previously where he handled the brands marketing and communications.

Brands such as Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Twining Tea collaborated for co-branded television commercials (TVC).