Anushka Sharma Has ‘No Tantrums’, Says Prega News Founder, Rajeev Juneja; Deepika Padukone’s Fee ‘Too High’
Anushka Sharma Has 'No Tantrums', Says Prega News Founder, Rajeev Juneja; Deepika Padukone’s Fee ‘Too High’
Bollywood’s new mothers often partner with pregnancy test brands, following in the footsteps of celebrities like Kareena Kapoor. Rajeev Juneja, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Mankind Pharma, recently opened up about his experience working with Anushka Sharma as the ambassador of Prega News in a candid conversation on Raj Shamani’s podcast. Juneja also disclosed that the brand is now considering either Deepika Padukone or Alia Bhatt as its next ambassador.
Rajeev Juneja, the force behind Prega News, has nothing but praise for the brand’s current ambassador, Anushka Sharma. “She’s exceptional,” he says. “Anushka Sharma is professional, exceptionally disciplined, straightforward in nature, and unwavering committed to her work. Her army background likely instills a strong sense of ethics, which is evident in her work. Not once have we encountered any tantrums or diva-like behavior. “Matlab kam aisa hota hai. Koi tantrums nahi hai. Koi filmy wali baatein nahi hain,” he said.
Juneja also reminisced about his positive experience with Kareena Kapoor, who previously endorsed Prega News. Looking ahead, Rajeev has expressed interest in collaborating with Deepika Padukone but admitted that her fee may be prohibitively expensive. “We haven’t signed her yet,” he revealed. “Her asking price might be too steep for us.” Alternatively, Rajeev is exploring the possibility of partnering with Alia Bhatt to represent the brand.
According to Juneja, when it comes to allocating his brand’s marketing budget, a surprisingly small portion – just 20-25% – is dedicated to producing an advertisement, including the celebrity endorser’s fee. Rest is reserved for amplifying the ad’s reach and ensuring it resonates with a wide audience.
Anushka Sharma was named the brand ambassador of Prega News in 2020, coinciding with her first pregnancy, and later gave birth to her daughter Vamika Kohli in January 2021. The couple has since expanded their family, welcoming their second child, son Akaay, in February of the previous year.
Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh became parents for the first time, welcoming their baby daughter Dua in September last year. Notably, both Deepika and fellow actress Anushka Sharma have chosen to keep their children’s faces private, refraining from sharing photos publicly. In contrast, Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, who welcomed daughter Raha in November 2022, initially kept her face hidden before finally revealing it at the Kapoor family’s Christmas gathering in 2023.
