MUMBAI: In a move aimed at dialling up its digital dominance, Nilkamal has handed over its full media mandate to WPP Media, with EssenceMediacom at the helm. The agency will handle everything from media planning and buying to digital strategy and execution — all wrapped in a sharp, data-led, digital-first bow.
The win positions EssenceMediacom as the strategic nerve centre for Nilkamal’s media operations across both digital and offline, signalling the brand’s push toward next-gen consumer engagement. Expect AI-fuelled segmentation, programmatic muscle, and immersive storytelling formats to feature heavily in the game plan.
The newly appointed team will tap WPP Media’s deep bench in precision targeting, martech innovation and audience analytics to turbocharge brand relevance and bottom-line impact. The aim: turn every impression into intent, and every scroll into sale.
EssenceMediacom CEO – South Asia, Navin Khemka said, “We look forward to welcoming Nilkamal to our growing portfolio of future focussed brands. This partnership gives us the opportunity to blend strategy with creativity and data to deliver impact across the funnel. With a focus on innovation and audience intelligence, we aim to build a bold and future-ready narrative for Nilkamal that drives lasting impact and value.”
Nilkamal Ltd managing director Parekh added, “We are glad to partner with WPP Media’s EssenceMediacom in this new chapter of our growth journey. The agency’s proven expertise in crafting innovative, data-led strategies aligns perfectly with our vision for accelerated growth. We look forward to crafting engaging, insight-led campaigns that elevate our brand presence and drive long-term value.”
MUMBAI: Vision AI specialist Metafusion has named Avinash Trivedi as its new chief growth officer, charging him with ramping up the company’s go-to-market strategy, scaling enterprise adoption, and unlocking new global partnerships across traffic, safety, and urban intelligence.
Trivedi brings over 20 years of hard-won experience in video surveillance, SaaS, and smart infrastructure, with deep roots in high-growth markets across APAC, the Middle East and Europe.
He joins Metafusion from Zygal, where he led sales and business development as president — driving expansion into VSaaS (Video Surveillance-as-a-Service) and Command Center-as-a-Service models. His resume also features senior leadership roles at Videonetics, Sony India, and Score Information Technologies, building high-performance growth pipelines.
At Metafusion, Trivedi will take charge of revenue acceleration across its flagship AI product suite — from Metavisio (video intelligence) and Metatraffic (smart traffic management) to PixelFACE (facial recognition) and fuseNETS, a collaborative vision research platform.
The appointment comes as Metafusion steps on the gas, expanding rapidly into smart city projects, traffic ecosystems, enterprise security, and intelligent highways.
“I am excited to join Metafusion at such a pivotal moment in its journey,” said Metafusion chief growth officer Avinash Trivedi. “What drew me in was the vision and the clarity of purpose. We are shaping the digital nervous system for safer cities, smarter transport, and more responsive infrastructure. I look forward to partnering with our customers, team, and ecosystem to scale meaningful impact.”
Metafusion founder & CEO Yatin Kavishwar added, “Avinash brings the right blend of enterprise acumen, GTM rigour, and industry foresight that aligns with our mission. As we scale our AI capabilities across sectors, his leadership will be instrumental in building new growth frontiers and deepening trust with our customers and partners globally.”
Co-founded by Kavishwar, Saransh Karira, and Manish Soni, the company is carving out a niche at the intersection of generative AI, computer vision, NLP, and big data — decoding video, audio and metadata in real time to deliver actionable insights across industries.
With Trivedi now in the cockpit, Metafusion seems primed to go from smart to unstoppable.
MUMBAI — In a stirring new campaign titled #TarrakiKeHaath, Capri Loans salutes the unsung engines of India’s economy — the self-employed, the small shopkeepers, the dhaba owners, the carpenters and countless others who fuel the country’s daily hustle with grit and graft.
Anchored by actor and brand ambassador Pankaj Tripathi, the campaign zooms in on the hands that toil quietly but relentlessly — stitching dreams, steering livelihoods, and shaping aspirations. Directed by Rediffusion brand solutions, the film is a visual homage to the working hands of Bharat, set to a grounded narration that exudes dignity, warmth, and resolve.
The campaign isn’t just sentiment — it underscores Capri Loans’ commitment to delivering grassroots financial inclusion. With over 1,100 branches and 7.2 lakh+ customers, the non-banking financial company is doubling down on its core mission: making credit accessible to those often overlooked by traditional banks.
From MSME loans and gold loans to affordable housing finance, Capri Loans is backing India’s enterprising middle with tech-enabled solutions that go beyond just lending — combining data science, AI, and empathy to make borrowing faster, smarter and more human.
“At Capri Loans, we don’t just finance livelihoods — we fuel aspirations,” said Capri Loans head marketing, Nishant Gehlot. “Capri Loans is committed to democratizing credit and bringing financial services to those who have long been underserved. #TarrakiKeHaath is a tribute to individuals whose contribution to the economy is vital yet often overlooked. This campaign reflects our brand’s ethos of inclusivity, access, and trust — values we live by in our journey to empower every Indian hand that dreams of growth. Pankaj Tripathi has been our brand ambassador for 3 years now, and his association not only lends more relatability to the narrative, but also strengthens brands connect with our audience.”
Echoing the sentiment, Rediffusion Brand Solutions national creative director Pramod Sharma added, “The idea for #TarrakiKeHaath emerged from what we see around us every day—millions of Indians working with quiet dignity and extraordinary resilience. The creative expression focuses on their hands, which bear the mark of both toil and hope. Capri Loans’ vision to empower this segment gave us the perfect canvas to tell these stories with emotional truth and impact.”
Adding further, Rediffusion Brand Solutions executive director Asheesh Malhotra said, “At Rediffusion, our strategy for #TarrakiKeHaath was rooted in creating an emotional connection with Capri Loans’ core audience—unsung professionals driving Bharat’s growth. By focusing on their hands, we symbolized both their resilience and aspirations. This campaign is designed to deepen Capri Loans’ brand equity, especially in urban and semi-urban markets, while reinforcing its commitment to democratizing credit. Through authentic storytelling and powerful visuals, we have positioned Capri Loans as a true enabler of growth and dreams for India’s hardworking individuals.”
#TarrakiKeHaath will roll out across television, print, and digital platforms in multiple languages, aiming to drive deep emotional resonance in both metros and Bharat’s heartland. With its grounded storytelling and laser-sharp media plan, Capri Loans hopes to win more than visibility — it wants to win trust.
Because in India’s growth story, it’s not just the big names that matter — it’s the calloused hands behind every small win.
MUMBAI: Times Square saw more than tourists stop and stare this week—India’s real estate behemoth DLF took over the iconic digital skyline to introduce its latest showpiece: DLF Privana North. As crimson hues lit up the three-sided digital tower known as ‘The Cube’, New York became ground zero for one of India’s flashiest real estate launches.
DLF unveiled the name and first look of Privana North on 18 June in a high-impact marketing stunt aimed squarely at the Indian diaspora. The 50-storey glazed towers of the Gurugram-based project stood tall, not in concrete, but in LED glory, above the legendary red stairs at 2 Times Square—a globally photographed backdrop that promises maximum eyeballs.
The unveiling formed part of DLF’s larger strategy to court NRI investors, who account for nearly 30 per cent of its residential sales. Nearly half of this NRI chunk comes from the United States alone, making the Big Apple a strategic choice for the launch. It wasn’t just about showing off a new skyscraper. This was DLF waving the Indian urbanisation flag on a global screen—quite literally.
DLF Privana North is the latest phase of the 116-acre DLF Privana township in Gurugram’s Sectors 76 and 77. The project follows Privana South and West, both of which sold out in under three days before they even officially launched. Privana North is expected to push the bar further, becoming the crown jewel of the township.
The Times Square reveal was more than a marketing gimmick. It reflected a confident crossover between real estate and show business. It placed India’s housing ambitions under Manhattan’s neon lights, where eyeballs from every continent converge—and Instagram follows.
Privana North has been in investor and buyer chatter for more than a year. Its formal introduction on a global stage adds momentum to DLF’s positioning as not just a builder, but a storyteller in the evolution of urban India. Gurugram, once a cluster of villages, now gets billboarded in the world’s most-watched intersection.
‘The Cube’ features six massive LED screens angled across Broadway, 7th Avenue and 47th Street. With millions of daily footfalls and billions of potential impressions online, DLF’s digital takeover ensures that Privana North already has the world’s attention—even before its foundation stone is laid.
MUMBAI: Just when you thought mango season had packed its bags, Itc Sunfeast Baked Creations drops one last, delicious surprise with a zany digital film — the grand finale to its Mad Over Mangoes Again campaign.
This final hurrah is equal parts dessert porn and fruit-fuelled frenzy. The video plunges viewers into a sun-drenched world where mango obsession turns dessert lovers into full-blown #CertifiedAampaglus — the mango-mad masses whose cravings know no chill. With toe-tapping music, hyper visuals, and unapologetic indulgence, it’s mango love turned up to eleven.
Front and centre are three showstoppers:
1 Mango Pudding — a custard-and-caramel jar layered with fresh mango
2 Mango Mascarpone Cake — spongy, pulpy, and as breezy as a tropical holiday
3 Mango Tres Leches — a creamy classic gone delightfully desi
Joining the lineup are a riot of other tropical temptations: Mango Cheesecake Bento, Mango & Chocolate Mini Croissants, Custard Pastry, Tropical Cake, and a chilled Mango Shake. Each treat promises a different flavour of summer, designed to be devoured before the season does a disappearing act.
And in true mango madness fashion, the brand has taken its campaign offline — with a mango-for-mango swap. In Bengaluru, show up at any Café Sunfeast Baked Creations outlet with a real mango, and you’ll walk away with a free dessert. Sweet deal, quite literally.
Available for delivery in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, and Hyderabad via Swiggy and Zomato, this mango farewell is more than just dessert. It’s a fruity frenzy, a sugar rush, and a seasonal tribute rolled into one.
MUMBAI: Dettol, the household name that’s long been associated with hygiene and protection, has now added a splash of confidence to its cleansing credentials. The brand has rolled out a bold new promise of 12-hour freshness across its Cologne Fresh and Lime Fresh soap variants — a timely move in a country where a commute can be longer than a board meeting, and body odour can strike at the worst possible moment.
Designed for modern Indians on the move, Dettol Fresh claims to eliminate 99.9 per cent of odour-causing germs^ while delivering a day-long burst of confidence. Cologne Fresh brings a musky, masculine edge perfect for power moves and post-shower swagger, while Lime Fresh’s citrus zing is tailor-made for social sparks and morning hustle.
To bring the proposition alive, Dettol has partnered with McCann Worldgroup for two spirited ad films. In one, a young woman with a startup pitch finds an investor at an airport — only the one who smells success (literally) gets the deal. In the other, a duo of musicians get a surprise gig at a nightclub — but only the fresher of the two steals the spotlight.
Reckitt – South Asia regional marketing director, health, Kanika Kalra said, “At Reckitt, we believe real confidence starts with feeling fresh & protected so you are ready for anything. With Dettol Cologne & Lime Fresh, we’re not just offering freshness — we are helping people feel confident. Whether you’re chasing dreams in boardrooms or on stage, 12-hour freshness*~gives you the confidence to show up at your best. This marks an exciting benefit from Dettol as we expand our promise of protection into the freshness space — because when you feel fresh, you always feel ready.”
The campaign is headlined by two engaging ad films, conceptualised by McCann Worldgroup. McCann Worldgroup India chief creative officer and CEO Prasoon Joshi said, “Opportunities don’t wait – they can come anytime! And when they do, you’ve got to feel fresh, confident, and ready to grab them. That’s what this campaign is all about. With 12 hour-freshness, Dettol Lime Fresh and Cologne Fresh have your back, helping go-getters feel fresh and confident, and also protect from body odour.”
The message is simple: with Dettol Fresh, you don’t just feel clean — you feel ready. Whether it’s for a chance meeting, a professional breakthrough, or a bold night out, Dettol wants to be your invisible wingman.
As the brand evolves from its germ-killing legacy to confidence-boosting freshness, the humble soap bar is suddenly less about hygiene and more about head-turning assurance. Freshness, it seems, is now a career strategy.
MUMBAI: “Real learning only happens when a child feels safe emotionally and mentally.” That was Aamir Khan, not in a film, but in real life, as he joined educationist Ganesh Kohli for a deeply personal and urgent conversation on mental health and inclusion in schools. In a session titled “Education and Counselling for Inclusion”, streamed live to educators and students around the globe, Khan opened up about his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par, his own family’s experiences with neurodiversity, and the often overlooked need for emotional scaffolding in academic spaces.
Organised by the IC3 Movement, the session wasn’t just talk, it mirrored a broader call for change. India, where over 13,000 students die by suicide annually, faces a staggering crisis. IC3’s report, Student Suicides: An Epidemic Sweeping India, reveals that this rate is doubling faster than general suicide rates, demanding not just awareness, but action.
Khan, known for Taare Zameen Par and 3 Idiots, didn’t hold back. “We speak of excellence,” he said, “but we forget, it’s impossible without emotional safety.” His words resonated against findings from IC3’s 2024 Annual Student Quest Report, which surveyed students and counsellors across 56 countries. 81 per cent of students and 83 per cent of counsellors said that connecting personal values like passion and purpose with career choices improves mental well-being and clarity.
IC3 Founder Ganesh Kohli stressed that inclusion must go beyond good intentions. “It requires transforming mindsets, policies, and day-to-day interactions,” he said. “Inclusion is about ensuring every student belongs.”
The session spotlighted some urgent themes: stigma around mental health, the shortage of trained school counsellors, and the need for emotionally intelligent educators. “Teachers should be the highest paid professionals in any society,” said Khan, reiterating how one bad teacher can damage generations, and one good one can change lives.
This dialogue sets the tone for the upcoming 2025 Annual IC3 Conference & Expo (August 20–21, Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai), themed “Counseling as a Culture”. It will bring together educators and policymakers from 95 plus countries, and focus on weaving career and college counselling into the fabric of every school where well-being matters just as much as test scores.
As anxiety, burnout, and academic pressure hit alarming levels, conversations like these are no longer optional. They’re a syllabus in themselves. And in Aamir Khan’s words, perhaps it’s time schools stop chasing marks, and start listening to what truly makes a child thrive.
Mumbai — NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL), the bill payments arm of the National Payments Corporation of India, has rolled out a sharply observed campaign for its flagship platform, Bharat Connect. The line? ‘Aap Humein Jaante Nahi, Par Maante Hain’ — a nod to how millions use the system daily without ever knowing its name.
Conceptualised by DDB Mudra Group, the campaign focuses on the platform’s omnipresence in everyday digital transactions — from electricity bills and EMIs to insurance and credit card dues — while operating quietly in the background. Bharat Connect is the digital workhorse running through bank apps, fintech interfaces, websites and even assisted channels, powering both recurring and one-time payments with minimal fuss.
Featuring familiar faces such as Puneet Issar, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Sharib Hashmi, Chandan Roy and Gopal Datt, the films unfold through everyday scenarios — slice-of-life moments where the real star is seamless, secure and trustworthy digital infrastructure.
The campaign, which goes live across eleven Indian languages, will hit television, digital, print, radio and out-of-home touchpoints in a full-bodied media blitz. It’s as much about emotional connection as it is about tech prowess.
Speaking about this campaign, NBBL MD & CEO Noopur Chaturvedi said, “Bharat Connect stands as a trusted and inclusive digital infrastructure for bill payments that touches the lives of millions every single day. With this campaign, we aim to make our purpose visible and assure every Indian of ease, safety, and reliability when managing their essential payments. Through relatable instances in this campaign, we aim to reaffirm Bharat Connect’s role in enabling India’s digital future.”
“The insight driving this campaign stemmed from a simple truth: while Bharat Connect powers millions of daily bill payments, its name remains unfamiliar to most. This gap between utility and awareness became the foundation of our narrative — highlighting how a trusted service can be deeply embedded in people’s lives, yet remain invisible,” said DDB Mudra Group Group creative directors Gagandeep Bindra & Rahul Arcot.
With this move, NBBL hopes to bring Bharat Connect out of the shadows and into public consciousness — not by rebranding, but by reminding users that trust is often built silently, swipe by swipe.
CANNES: Amazon president & CEO Andy Jassy – who was announced as the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Media Person of the Year Award on 16 June – will take to the stage at the Debussy Theatre today in the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, for a fireside chat, before being presented with the accolade during the awards show later this evening.
The 2025 media person of the year award recognises an individual who has made a significant impact on the creative communications industry and who stands as an influential figure within the global media landscape.
The media person of the year award is given to those who not only excel within the media industry but also drive innovation, creativity and a forward-thinking vision that shapes the future of media. Andy Jassy’s leadership at Amazon has been instrumental in transforming the company into one of the most influential and innovative media platforms in the world.
Lions chair Philip Thomas at the time of making the announcement had said: “Historically, each year, Cannes Lions has honoured outstanding leaders who have reshaped the media industry. This year, we are proud to recognise Andy Jassy and the entire Amazon organisation. Not only is Amazon the largest media platform globally, but it has also set new standards for scale, creativity, and influence, effectively creating a new model for media. Andy’s visionary leadership continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in media, and we are excited to honour him for his extraordinary contributions.”
Past recipients include notable figures such as Salar Kamangar of YouTube, Jack Dorsey of Twitter, Eric Schmidt of Google, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, and Steve Ballmer of Microsoft.
MUMBAI: Not every day does a personal care unicorn rope in an FMCG heavyweight to sharpen its business game—but when it does, the move smells as sweet as a bottle of onion hair oil going viral on Instagram.
Honasa Consumer Limited, the parent company behind Mamaearth, The Derma Co., and Aqualogica, announced on 17 June 2025 the appointment of Yatish Bhargava as its new chief business officer (CBO). The decision signals a strategic gear shift for the fast-growing brand, as it seeks to scale both breadth and depth across general trade, modern trade, and online marketplaces.
Bhargava steps into the role as a seasoned operator with over 17 years of experience. He brings P&L expertise and leadership acumen honed at some of India’s most influential consumer companies, including Flipkart and Hindustan Unilever. At Flipkart, he played a central role in category transformation and go-to-market strategies. At HUL, he led high-performing sales and growth teams across multiple verticals.
His appointment takes effect immediately, with a full-time term. Honasa stated that Bhargava will be a designated senior management personnel (SMP) under SEBI compliance.
In its regulatory filing with the NSE and BSE, Honasa underscored its intent to reinforce business scale, growth strategies, and sustainable momentum through Bhargava’s expertise. “Yatish has led category transformation, built scalable go-to-market strategies and driven sustained growth across diverse consumer businesses”, the company noted in its official statement.
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, Bhargava will be tasked with building on Honasa’s already expansive omnichannel approach while navigating the highly competitive D2C landscape.
The announcement comes at a time when Honasa is increasingly eyeing market leadership across beauty and wellness categories, both online and offline. With Bhargava’s appointment, the company appears ready to play offence with stronger execution muscle and retail agility.
The disclosure has been made available on Honasa’s official website.
