Havas India launches luxury experiential agency Shortcut Shobiz India with Paris-based Shortcut

Havas India has launched Shortcut Shobiz India, a new experiential agency focused on the luxury and lifestyle sectors, in partnership with Paris-headquartered creative agency Shortcut and Havas India’s experiential agency Shobiz.

The new entity will combine Shortcut’s French creative expertise with Shobiz’s Indian production capabilities and market understanding, with a focus on designing and delivering experiences for luxury and lifestyle brands.

The launch marks Shortcut’s entry into the Indian market, following its recent expansion into Milan. Havas India said the move is aimed at tapping into India’s growing luxury market, which the company estimates at between $10 billion and $12.1 billion, citing the 2025 State of Fashion report by McKinsey and the Business of Fashion.


Farah Lauren Khan has been appointed Vice President of Shortcut Shobiz India and will lead the agency from Mumbai. She brings more than 15 years of experience in experiential marketing and brand strategy, with a career spanning luxury and lifestyle brands including Apple, Bvlgari, Cartier, Christian Louboutin, Dior, Estée Lauder, Ferrari, Gucci, Hermès, Jo Malone, Rolls-Royce, Rolex, St. Regis Hotels, Tod’s, Zara and W Hotels.

Khan will report to Sameer Tobaccowala, CEO, Shobiz.

The agency will operate around the philosophy of “Experiences Designed with Artistic Intelligence”, combining French savoir-faire, global creative expertise and Indian craftsmanship. Its remit will cover experiences and events for luxury and lifestyle brands, institutions and organisations.

Christophe Pinguet, Co-Founder and Co-President of Shortcut, described the India venture as a new international chapter for the agency, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in July 2026. He said the partnership would bring together Shortcut’s artistic intelligence and operational expertise with Shobiz’s production capabilities and India’s creative talent.

Shortcut Co-Founder and Co-President Lionel Laval said the partnership was built around complementary expertise, with Shortcut contributing its creative approach and Shobiz bringing local understanding, production capabilities and creative dynamism. The agency will target sectors including luxury, beauty, fragrance and lifestyle.

For Havas India, the launch expands its integrated offering. Group CEO Rana Barua said Shortcut Shobiz India is the 26th expertise added to the One Havas ecosystem in India and noted that the network already has a significant roster of luxury and lifestyle clients.

Tobaccowala said the partnership reflects the evolution of India’s experiential marketing industry, particularly in luxury, where consumers increasingly expect experiences to be immersive, authentic and thoughtfully designed. He added that the agency would combine Shortcut’s global conceptual heritage with Shobiz’s creative depth, scale and understanding of Indian consumers.

Shortcut Shobiz India will be headquartered in Mumbai, with regional offices in Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai. Its capabilities will include brand experiences, product launches, exhibitions, corporate events, institutional ceremonies, creative strategy, content production and end-to-end event execution.

The venture builds on Shortcut’s experience in luxury, beauty, lifestyle and fragrance, as well as Shobiz’s more than four decades in India’s experiential marketing industry. Shobiz currently has more than 350 professionals across four offices, according to the release.

Havas India, meanwhile, operates across creative, media and health networks, with more than 2,500 professionals and associates across its offices in Mumbai, Gurugram, Bengaluru, Kolkata, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai.