Who is more popular, as far as branding of a product is concern regardless to type of product?

Film stars by any chance are more popular than sports star to create a big bang for any product launch or for established brand. A country like India where more than a half of population is still in position to adapt understanding like do metro or big cities people have for choosing a product not on basis of which film star is promoting but to compare on performance grounds.

Rural customers are like a bunch of solid base which creates attraction by tv ads & ensures sales for company by source or i can say a vehicle (film stars) to promote a product.

FILM STARS BOTH NATIONAL AND REGIONAL  COMMAND MORE RESPECT THAN ANYBODY ELSE SINCE THE PENETRATION LEVEL OF FILMS ARE INCOMPARATIVELY HIGHER THAN THAT OF SPORTS AND GAMES. AND IN OUR COUNTRY ONLY CRICKET IS CONSIDERED AS A GAME  AND THERE ARE VERY FEW WHO ARE IN THE NATIONAL TEAM FOR A LONGER DURATION.

Yes in India a filmstar is more valuable all over the country whearas a sportsman is not. May be there are exceptions like Sachin Tendulkar. In that case a film star in India will be a better brand as compared to a sportsman.

In Europe or America it is the other way round a sportsperson is a better brand as compared to a flim star.

Yes, You are right , Sheetal.

Though I am on the side of film stars , I would like to say that it cannot be so clear cut.

A celebrity is used to promote products depending on how close the match between the product and the celebrity is.

Consider a product like Boost or any other food product ; Sachin is used to promote this on the grounds that it gives him the stamina to play cricket all day long. Children can easily connect to this kind of promotion , both because they are fans of Sachin , and also because they would like to have the kind of stamina that Sachin has.

Consider a product like Dove soap ; this is a beauty product , and it would difficult to associate it with a sports star say Sania or Saina , even though they are good looking. In our minds , we associate beauty and film stars , and it would easier to promote a beauty aid using a film star than a sports star.

Having said this , I would still say that film stars have an edge because they have a bigger fan following than sports stars.

Look at how many sports stars have fan clubs , and look at how many film stars have fan clubs. Fans of film stars can imitate their star's hair style , dress style , and other mannerisms ; very few sports stars have anything distinctive about them other than their sporting talent ; when they are not playing , they are not in the public eye.

THANKS , CHANDRASHEKHER FOR REFERRAL.

BUT I WANT TO GO WITH FILM STAR BETWEEN TWO.

JUST TAKE A CASE OF RAHUL DRAVID. AS SOON AS HE LEFT THE CAPTAINCY HE HAS GONE FROM ADVERTISEMENT OF CASTROL & KISSAN JAMS.IF PARTICULAR CRICKET PLAYER FAIL TO MAKE GOOD SHOW IN ON GOING SERIES OR GAME THEN ADVT. AGENCY HAVE TO RE THINK OF THAT PLAYER AS MODEL BUT ON THE OTHER HAND THAT IS NOT THE CASE WITH FILM STAR 7 YOU HAVE NO. OF EXAMPLES FOR THIS SHAHRUKH KHAN, AKSHAY KUMAR IS BRAND AMBASSADOR OF THUMS UP FOR LAST 5 TO 6 YEARS. JUST TAKE A CASE OF VIRAT KOHLI WHO IS DOING AD FOR FAST TRACK BUT ONLY ON HOARDING B'COZ HE IS JUST NEW EMERGING TALENTED NEW PLAYER.

SO I GO WITH FILM STAR.

I would like to differ from both, branding depends on the creative minds in what way they present it to the target audience. take the case of tata tea where neither a sports personnel or a filmstar was involved !!!