Airbnb has rolled out a campaign, ‘Trust the host’, featuring actors Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday.

The campaign comprises a film. The ad opens with Aaryan reading out what sounds like a deeply heartfelt note. Panday overhears the monologue and assumes he’s saying all of this for her. As Aaryan leans into the moment, Panday begins to believe this might just be a grand, filmy gesture, until the reveal flips the story on its head. But the romantic note, the chocolates, the candles, none of it was meant for her at all. It was Aaryan prepping his home as an Airbnb Host for incoming guests, making sure everything is thoughtfully set up for a memorable stay.

What we think about it: The ad plays a clever game with expectations, leaning fully into the language of Bollywood romance before pulling off a smart, lighthearted twist. The humour is gentle, and the brand message lands organically rather than feeling forced. The ad smartly plays on the duo’s new movie, using their familiar on-screen chemistry to sell the romance before flipping the script.