5 Ways Tim Cook’s PR Team Nailed His India Trip

Tim Cook’s India itinerary was colourful and blingy with its fair share of Bollywood, IPL, temples et al.

In this handout photograph provided by Apple Media office, Apple chief Tim Cook talks with Indian colleagues during the inauguration of the Apple’s Map development office in Hyderabad on 19 May 2016. (Photo: AP)

When Apple CEO Tim Cook landed in India on his maiden visit, expectations were sky high. Partly because Cook has been repeatedly talking up India as a priority market. So far however, we’ve had to make do with an iOS app development and design centre in Bengaluru and Apple’s first-ever Map development centre in Hyderabad.

But Cook’s PR team certainly managed his India appointment book like a boss - a trip to Siddhivinayak, hobnobbing with Bollywood and an IPL match thrown in. Here’s how they nailed it.

Namaste from Apple

The app design and development centre was announced shortly after Cook arrived in the country. He namaste-ed the cameras outside his hotel in Mumbai.

Apple chief Tim Cook, greets in Indian style at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai on Wednesday, 18 May 2016. (Photo: AP)

At the Siddhivinayak Temple

Within hours of landing, Cook headed for the famous Mumbai temple, keeping photographers busy. Brownie points to him for the exotic tika and scarf.

Apple CEO Tim Cook at the Siddhivinayak temple in Bombay on 18 May.(Photo: IANS)

Of Course There Was Bollywood

While in Mumbai, Tim Cook mingled with the who’s who of tinsel town. From a tour of a famous studio with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt to a casual dinner with King Khan, Cook did it all on his India trip.

Filmmaker Mukesh Bhatt takes Apple CEO, Tim Cook on a tour of Mehboob studio in Mumbai on Wednesday. (Photo: PTI)

Shahrukh Khan shared this picture of Tim Cook on his Twitter handle.

When Apple Met IPL

Cook arrived to watch an IPL match between Gujarat Lions and Kolkata Knight Riders in Kanpur, with the IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla in tow. With the entire nation engulfed by the IPL fervour, visiting a match venue was another smart move. Win-win for Gujarat Lions and Tim Cook.

Tim Cook with Rajeev Shukla in Kanpur. (Photo: IANS)

Tim Cook at an IPL match in Kanpur. (Photo: IANS)

According to biographer and coloumnist, Pranay Gupte, this is how Tim Cook described his experience of an IPL match:

Also Read: Apple CEO Tim Cook Lands in Kanpur to Watch IPL Encounter

Inaugurating Technology Centre in Hyderabad, the Indian Way

Hyderabad saw Tim Cook lighting the traditional diya for good luck and posing with the Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to inaugurate the Apple technology centre in Hyderabad.

Tim Cook in Hyderabad on 19 May for the inauguration of the Apple technology centre, Hyderabad. (Photo: IANS)

Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook and Telangana chief minister, K Chandrashekar Rao inaugurating Apple’s technology centre in Hyderabad on 19 May 2016. (Photo: IANS)