What Do Amul Girl & Shashi Tharoor Have In Common? The ‘Malayali Girl’ Link Will Blow Your Mind!

Last Updated:August 20, 2025, 09:20 IST

The famous girl in the Amul advertisement has a strong connection with Shashi Tharoor and the way she was discovered for the advertisement is nothing short of adventure.

The Amul Girl continues to be one of the world’s most loved ad mascots. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

In 1966, advertising legend Sylvester daCunha began a search for a child model to represent the now-famous Amul Girl. The idea was to create a mascot that would become the face of the brand. DaCunha reviewed 712 photographs of young girls. Yet, none matched the image he had in mind.

It was then that he remembered his close friend from Kerala, Chandran Tharoor. DaCunha reached out and asked for a picture of his eldest daughter. When he opened the envelope, he saw a one-and-a-half-year-old girl in a spotted dress with a ponytail. That little girl was Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan.

The Original Amul Baby

The picture immediately clicked with daCunha. He felt she perfectly matched the “utterly butterly" charm he was looking for. The iconic cartoon Amul Girl was later created, but Shobha’s image was the first real-life inspiration. The photograph was taken by celebrated filmmaker Shyam Benegal.

Shobha herself confirmed this after daCunha’s passing. She shared her memories in a social media post, recalling his friendship with her father and her selection as the original Amul Girl. She also went on to feature in other campaigns, becoming Miss Nivea and Miss Kolkata.

A Distinguished Career

Shobha Tharoor is now a noted children’s writer and voice artist based in California. In 2022, she won the National Film Award for Best Voice Over Narration. The award was for the documentary Rhapsody of Rains – Monsoons of Kerala, directed by Siraj Shah and produced by Invis Multimedia for Kerala Tourism.

Her narration was praised for bringing depth and beauty to the film. This achievement added another feather to her versatile career.

Family Link With Amul Continues

The Tharoor family’s association with Amul did not end with Shobha. Her younger sister, Smitha, was also chosen for later advertisements. She became the first colourful Amul Baby in the company’s campaigns.

Today, Shobha’s brother, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, is a well-known Member of Parliament. Yet, the family’s link to Indian advertising history remains a fascinating chapter.

More than 50 years later, the Amul Girl continues to be one of the world’s longest-running and most loved ad mascots. And it all began with a little girl from Palakkad.

Business Desk

A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al...Read More

A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al...

Read More

Location :

Delhi, India, India

First Published:

August 20, 2025, 09:20 IST

News viral What Do Amul Girl & Shashi Tharoor Have In Common? The ‘Malayali Girl’ Link Will Blow Your Mind!

Read More