Mastercard taps Ishaan Khatter for Tap and Go mobile payments campaign

Mastercard has launched Tap Your Phone Pay in Style a new brand campaign aimed at normalising mobile contactless payments among young Indian consumers. The push positions Tap and Go as a fast, secure and stylish way to pay for everyday purchases, in step with rising reliance on digital wallets and contactless cards.

The films feature actors Ishaan Khatter and Krithi Shetty in short stylised stories that turn routine payment moments into expressions of modern digital behaviour. From coffee shop runs to fashion buys, the creative presents a single tap of the phone as an easy gesture that fits naturally into youth culture.

The rollout includes teaser content, main films and weekly highlights across social platforms. Mastercard is working with creators from finance, lifestyle, fashion and entertainment to build familiarity and drive user generated content around Tap and Go. Interactive formats and challenges are expected to encourage viewers to showcase their own tap in style moments.

Beyond communication, Mastercard is collaborating with issuing banks, merchants and retail partners to expand Tap and Go on ground acceptance. As part of the activation, the company will introduce Tap Zones at restaurants, cafes and retail locations, giving consumers a hands on experience with mobile contactless payments.

Lavani Agarwal, vice president marketing and communications for South Asia at Mastercard, said Indian consumers now expect technology to integrate seamlessly into their daily routines. She described mobile contactless payments as secure and efficient while also aligning with the personal style of digital first users.

The creative work has been led by McCann Worldgroup India. Prasoon Joshi, chief executive and chief creative officer, said the idea was to turn a simple tap into a moment of self expression, reflecting a mood where payments are personal rather than mundane.

The campaign will run primarily across digital and social platforms, with the goal of embedding Tap and Go as a familiar and functional payment mode for Gen Z and millennial users. By combining celebrity led storytelling, creator partnerships and physical Tap Zones, Mastercard is aiming to shift both perception and habit around mobile contactless payments in India.

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