Featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukherjee, the commercial will be aired from January 30 on the major channels. In addition, by February 1, Pepsi also plans to kick off a second major promotion: this time, for the World Cup Cricket series to be he held in England later this year.

Pulling out the stops for the winning KKHH star cast, the new 60-second Pepsi commercial has been shot by ace adfilm-maker Prahlad Kakkar and choreographed by leading Bollywood choreographer Farha Khan. Shot in Ballard Estate, Mumbai, the commercial's storyboard is believed to rely on music, dance, and drama. Adding excitement in addition to the three mega-stars', is a supporting cast of more than 1500 extras.

The first week of February will also see the kick-off of the first majorpromotion on the World Cup Cricket series -- an event which is being sponsored by Pepsi. This time, Pepsi is capitalising on its cricketing stars and will be introducing a series of cards with the pictures of cricket stars. Under the scheme, consumers who buy two Pepsi bottles in a certain size, will be given one cricket card. At least a dozen cards are scheduled for release in the first phase, featuring a host of international and Indian cricket stars. While the final list is still being processed, prominently featured on the cards will be Pepsi sponsors like Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Ajay Jadeja, and Ajit Agarkar.

Much like baseball cards popular in the US, the cricket cards will carry a certain number of runs behind each card. Pepsi is currently believed to be in the process of finalising a slew of gifts that can be won by toting up scores of runs. One of the prizes for example, is expected to be air-tickets to London to see the final of the World Cup to be held on June 15,1999.

Excitement for the cricket promotion will be generated through print advertising primarily, with some support from the electronic media. Both promotions capitalise heavily on Pepsi's growing list of celebrity endorsers. Rani Mukherjee for example, was signed on January 11, 1999, close on the heels of 1998's most successful movie, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai -- while Kajol was signed earlier. Shah Rukh Khan, of course, has been a Pepsi endorser for some time now.