Here is a casting call nobody saw coming: a former Special Forces officer, in an oversized tee, fronting a streetwear campaign. Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal (Retd.), formerly of 4 PARA (Special Forces) and Aide-de-Camp to President Droupadi Murmu, is the face of Bonkers Corner’s latest culture and festive apparel collection, and social media has not stopped talking about it.
It is not hard to see why. After 12 years of military service, the Major recently moved into civilian life, and his first big public act is a hoodie campaign. Instagram and Facebook users have been quick to praise the brand for picking a real-life hero over a conventional model. In a feed full of polished faces, this one felt different.
The campaign line does the heavy lifting: “Different journeys. A shared mindset.” Discipline, grit and self-belief meet street culture, shown through oversized tees, baggy fits and heavy-fabric hoodies. The smart part is what the brand did not do. It did not dress up a uniform story. It simply let the person’s journey stand beside the clothes.
Bonkers Corner knows a thing or two about moving fast. Founded in 2020 by Shubham Gupta, the unisex label grew from bootstrapped roots on oversized apparel, joggers and hoodies for Gen Z. It later got Namita Thapar’s backing on Shark Tank India, opened its first store in 2023, and raised $15 million in a Series A round.
So, can credibility out-sell celebrity? Too early to call. But for a brand moving from online to offline, a face people actually believe may be worth more than a famous one.
