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Category: News Headline

  • Moneycontrol summit fuels MF industry’s next leap

    Moneycontrol summit fuels MF industry’s next leap

    MUMBAI: When India’s top fund minds gather under one roof, the conversation is bound to compound. Moneycontrol, India’s leading financial news platform, hosted the Bengaluru edition of the Moneycontrol Mutual Fund Summit 2025, presented by HDFC Mutual Fund and powered by Axis Mutual Fund, bringing together the country’s sharpest asset management leaders to decode the next phase of India’s mutual fund revolution.

    With the theme “Decoding purpose, product, and tech,” the Bengaluru leg built on the momentum of the Mumbai debut, spotlighting the industry’s journey toward a 1 trillion dollars AUM by 2030. The discussions explored how innovation, trust, and digital transformation are reshaping mutual funds from passive savings tools into dynamic wealth-creation engines.

    The summit featured an illustrious line-up including D.P. Singh (SBI Mutual Fund), Navneet Munot (HDFC AMC), Vaibhav Shah (Mirae Asset), Sandeep Tandon (Quant MF), and Neil Parikh (PPFAS MF), among others. Together, they offered insights into everything from investor behaviour and regulatory frameworks to the rise of AI-driven financial advisory.

    Highlighting the potential of the newly launched SIF category, D.P. Singh noted, “SIF bridges the gap between mutual funds and AIFs/PMS, offering evolved investors flexibility with oversight. Within a year, SIFs could grow into a Rs 1 lakh crore category.”

    HDFC AMC’s Navneet Munot struck an optimistic note, “India is transforming from a nation of savers to a nation of investors. People are ambitious, aspirational, and want to create wealth. India is a compounding story.”

    Echoing this forward-looking sentiment, Mirae Asset’s Vaibhav Shah underscored the importance of a liberalised framework for cross-border investments, while Motilal Oswal’s Akhil Chaturvedi observed that Indian investors are now more resilient and long-term focused.

    As India marches toward Viksit Bharat 2047, the Bengaluru edition of the Moneycontrol Mutual Fund Summit 2025 reinforced the sector’s crucial role in driving financial democratisation and wealth creation. With technology, purpose, and innovation steering the next phase, the mutual fund industry seems poised not just to grow, but to evolve.

     

  • Rahul Dravid helps buildAhome hit it home

    Rahul Dravid helps buildAhome hit it home

    MUMBAI: He’s defended wickets, now he’s defending dreams. Rahul Dravid has teamed up with Bengaluru-based home construction company buildAhome for a one-of-a-kind outdoor campaign that turns home dreams into brick-and-mortar reality.

    Centred on the warm call to action “Banni, let’s build a home”, the campaign combines emotion and innovation with a cutting-edge “sensing billboard” that interacts with passers-by, bringing technology and trust to life on the streets of Bengaluru.

    Spanning hoardings, bus wraps, metro ads and digital storytelling, the campaign paints the city blue and white, echoing buildAhome’s promise of reliability, clarity, and integrity. It positions the brand as a one-stop solution for everything from design to delivery, with over 300 in-house experts and a strict no-subcontracting model to ensure precision and peace of mind.

    For Dravid, whose name is synonymous with dependability, the partnership was a natural fit. The cricketing legend chose buildAhome’s green homes for their focus on sustainable design and energy efficiency, values that mirror his own grounded approach to success.

    “At buildAhome, we believe in promoting not just aspirational living but responsible living,” said founder and CEO Abhijith R. Priyan. “We don’t just build houses; we create homes that inspire confidence and stability.”

    From sensing billboards to storytelling that speaks the local language, buildAhome’s latest campaign hits home on every front, proof that when Rahul Dravid’s in your corner, even homebuilding can become a masterclass in patience, precision, and pure dedication.

     

  • Swastik stories brings culture to every screen

    Swastik stories brings culture to every screen

    MUMBAI: When history hits ‘play’, India listens. Swastik Stories, the creative powerhouse behind television’s grandest epics, has launched India’s first cultural storytelling & entertainment FAST channel, a platform where scale meets soul, and mythology meets modernity.

    Streaming free across JioTV, LG, Xiaomi TV and RunnTV, the new channel already reaches over 50 million users, bringing India’s timeless tales into the digital age. Known for iconic shows like Mahabharat, Porus and RadhaKrishn, Swastik now takes its storytelling legacy into the FAST lane, blending cultural heritage with the ease of on-demand entertainment.

    The curtain rises with Hamara Vinayak, Swastik’s first digital original, premiering on 31 October at 6 pm IST. Presented by 1 Finance, the short-format series tells cinematic stories in 10–12 minutes, made for today’s audiences who seek meaning in minutes. Episodes will stream every Friday on Youtube and the Swastik Stories FAST channel simultaneously.

    “Swastik Stories is about giving Indian culture a new rhythm in the digital age,” said founder and chief storyteller Siddharth Kumar Tewary. “This isn’t just a channel launch, but a movement, a way to carry India’s stories forward with heart and honesty.”

    Echoing the sentiment, 1 Finance AVP marketing Drashti Thaker said, “Our partnership with Hamara Vinayak mirrors our own philosophy. Just as Vinayak guides people through life’s crossroads, our advisors help individuals navigate their financial journeys.”

    With plans to reach 90 per cent of connected-TV households by March 2026 and a growing slate of originals inspired by Indian culture, Swastik Stories is rewriting the way India watches, proving that ancient wisdom can stream just as smoothly as the latest blockbuster. Because when stories have soul, every screen becomes sacred.

     

     

  • Kareena shines in KT Kids’ tender new TVC

    Kareena shines in KT Kids’ tender new TVC

    MUMBAI: When it comes to parenting, perfection takes a backseat and love takes the wheel. KT Kids’ new national TVC, featuring Kareena Kapoor Khan, celebrates exactly that, the unfiltered, joyfully messy world of motherhood.

    Conceptualised by Lumos Studios, the ad film positions KT Kids as “A mother’s trusted choice”, blending emotional storytelling with its promise of gentle, science-backed care. Kareena’s effortless warmth and authenticity bring a relatable charm to the film, capturing those everyday moments that define parenting, from bubbly bath times to sleepy hugs and everything in between.

    Set in a soft, cinematic palette, the visuals highlight the brand’s philosophy of care that’s pure, safe and full of heart, while subtly showcasing its range of shampoos and conditioners.

    “This campaign truly resonated with me as a mother,” said Kareena Kapoor Khan. “It captures the laughter, the chaos and the magic that come with raising children. KT Kids gives parents the confidence to care with love and without compromise.”

    KT Kids founder Dhruv Sayani added, “We wanted to celebrate the real side of motherhood, the mess and the magic. Kareena’s warmth brought that alive perfectly. Our goal remains to create products parents can trust completely.”

    Adding to the charm, the campaign introduces new SpongeBob SquarePants packaging, turning bath time into a splash of fun. Clinically tested and paediatrician-approved, KT Kids’ products are free from harsh chemicals like parabens, sulfates and silicones, a reflection of the brand’s ongoing commitment to care that’s as gentle as a mother’s touch.

    KT Kids keeps it simple: safe care, happy kids and a little love in every bubble.

     

  • Shaadi.com stirs up Lucknow with giant kadhai ad

    Shaadi.com stirs up Lucknow with giant kadhai ad

    MUMBAI: Who knew a humble kitchen kadhai could cook up such a storm? Shaadi.com’s latest outdoor campaign in Lucknow has done just that, turning a beloved North Indian superstition into a citywide spectacle.

    Partnering with Moms, the outdoor specialist from Madison World, the matchmaking platform unveiled a giant kadhai installation that instantly caught eyes and sparked conversations both on the streets and online. The campaign draws from the cheeky local saying, “Kadhai se kha liye? Shaadi mein baarish pakki!,” a superstition as familiar as it is funny.

    By turning that everyday phrase into a playful visual, the campaign struck a chord with audiences who couldn’t resist stopping for selfies, laughs, and a touch of nostalgia. It was a perfect recipe for virality, a mix of wit, warmth and cultural flair.

    “With this campaign, we wanted to showcase Shaadi.com’s relatable, light-hearted side in a way that truly connects with regional culture,” said Moms chief executive officer Jayesh Yagnik. “The kadhai idea taps into a shared superstition and turns it into a moment of joy and connection.”

    Shaadi.com brand manager – creative and social Johanna Israni added, “Some of the best ideas come from simple memories. Sneaking a bite from the kadhai is a universal moment, and we just blew it up, literally, to bring a smile to everyone’s face.”

    Conceptualised by Shaadi.com’s in-house creative team and executed with Moms, the campaign was further amplified digitally by Pulpkey. The result? A light-hearted outdoor activation that served equal parts nostalgia and novelty, proving that in advertising, sometimes all it takes is a good story, a great laugh, and one oversized kadhai.

     

  • Liminal Custody names Muppalla as product chief officer

    Liminal Custody names Muppalla as product chief officer

    MUMBAI: Liminal Custody has appointed Chakravarthi Muppalla as chief product officer to lead its next phase of innovation in digital asset infrastructure.

    Muppalla, who has held senior roles at Microsoft, Salesforce, Coinbase and Chorus One, brings over a decade of experience across cloud, SaaS, AI and blockchain. At Chorus One, he led the creation of Opus, a multi-chain staking and restaking platform.

    His background straddling enterprise technology and decentralised finance is expected to help Liminal strengthen its position as a trusted, regulated custody provider for institutional clients.

    Liminal Custody founder Mahin Gupta said Muppalla’s appointment marked “an important step” in the firm’s evolution. “His blend of Web2 and Web3 expertise aligns perfectly with our vision of simplifying digital asset management for enterprises globally,” he said.

    Muppalla likened the current moment in digital asset infrastructure to the early days of cloud computing. “Institutions want reliability, compliance and performance before they can truly scale,” he said. “At Liminal, I’m excited to build products that bridge that gap.”

    Under his leadership, Liminal plans to deepen its focus on institutional-grade innovation, modular product design and interoperability, helping enterprises and exchanges navigate the shifting landscape of digital finance.

     

  • Wendy’s rave serves burgers with a scare

    Wendy’s rave serves burgers with a scare

    MUMBAI: This Halloween, Wendy’s is swapping ketchup for cobwebs and fries for fright. The burger chain is turning its outlets in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune into haunted rave zones for one wicked night of food, fun and fearless partying.

    On October 31, Wendy’s Rave, Halloween edition will transform the restaurants into spooky diners with eerie lighting, creepy décor and surprise jump scares. Guests can feast on unlimited burgers, fries, beverages and desserts while grooving to a mix of Hindi cinema and EDM beats that promise to raise the dead, or at least the dance floor.

    Instead of the usual neon wristbands, party-goers will get glowing devil horn headbands, turning the crowd into a sea of red light and mischief. The surprise highlight? A DJ set by “Wendy” herself, complete with haunting Halloween makeup and a playlist that’s equal parts spooky and spectacular.

    “Halloween is all about bold, expressive fun, and Wendy’s is taking that spirit to the next level,” said Rebel Foods chief marketing officer Nishant Kedia. “The Wendy’s Rave is our way of serving flavour with a side of madness and a whole lot of music.”

    As beats drop and burgers flip, expect ghostly laughter, spine-tingling sound effects, and crew members in scary masks dishing out your meal with the occasional jump scare.

    It’s a night where burgers meet the bizarre, fries flirt with fright, and Wendy’s proves that food can be just as thrilling as a haunted house. This Halloween, your meal might just scream back.

     

  • Truth in real estate gets a Telangana tweak

    Truth in real estate gets a Telangana tweak

    MUMBAI: When it comes to buying a home, dreams often come wrapped in glossy brochures and grand promises. But in Telangana, truth in real estate ads just found a new guardian. The Telangana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TGRERA) has inked a pact with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) to crack down on misleading property promotions and safeguard homebuyers.

    The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Hyderabad in the presence of TGRERA chairman N. Satyanarayana, IAS, members J. Laxmi Narayana and K. Srinivasa Rao, along with senior TGRERA officials. Representing ASCI were CEO and secretary-general Manisha Kapoor and director of operations Saheli Sinha.

    The partnership will see ASCI use its digital monitoring tools to spot non-compliant real estate ads across online platforms. Once flagged, these dubious claims will be escalated to TGRERA for swift regulatory action.

    “Clear and truthful advertising is central to consumer trust in the housing market,” said Satyanarayana. “With ASCI’s expertise and technology, we can act faster and protect homebuyers from misleading claims.”

    This collaboration mirrors similar successes in other states. In 2024, the Maharashtra regulator (MahaRERA) teamed up with ASCI to identify thousands of dubious property ads, ensuring action under RERA provisions. Telangana now aims to replicate and scale that success.

    ASCI’s Manisha Kapoor said, “Partnerships like these show how cooperation between regulators and ASCI can create real impact. Together with TGRERA, we’re helping ensure that what’s promised on paper matches what’s delivered on site.”

    With this alliance, Telangana’s real estate sector looks set for a transparency makeover, where ads tell the truth, and homebuyers finally get what they were sold on.

     

  • PepsiCo’s new brand identity swaps its stripes for smiles

    PepsiCo’s new brand identity swaps its stripes for smiles

    NEW YORK: PepsiCo has binned the branding it has worn for a quarter-century. Out with the old, in with the grin. The company’s fresh corporate identity, unveiled on 28 October, marks its biggest visual shake-up since the turn of the millennium—a deliberate signal that this is no longer just the fizzy-drinks firm your parents knew.

    Sixty years after Pepsi merged with Lay’s, the empire has swelled to more than 500 brands—Tostitos, Gatorade, Quaker, Siete, poppi—and 300,000 employees. It peddles snacks and beverages from Kansas corner shops to Cairo kitchens, from São Paulo’s streets to Shanghai’s stores. Yet only 21 per cent of consumers can name a PepsiCo brand beyond Pepsi itself. Chairman and chief executive Ramon Laguarta reckons the rebrand will fix that. “Our new identity boldly reflects who we are in 2025: a company with expansive reach, aiming for positive impact across the globe,” he says.

    The new logo plants a “P” at its centre, hemmed in by shapes representing consumer focus, sustainability and taste. A custom typeface in lower case softens the corporate edge. The colour palette draws from earth tones and vivid hues—soil, drinks, planet, people. And lurking beneath it all: a smile. That grin anchors the company’s new three-word mantra: “Food. Drinks. Smiles.”

    Chief consumer and marketing officer and chief growth officer for international foods  Jane Wakely calls it “a beautiful expression of both who we are as a company today and our aspiration for the future.” The smile, she insists, signals an “obsession with consumers” that will fuel growth.

    The rebrand will roll out gradually across PepsiCo.com, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, then seep into packaging, workplaces and signage worldwide. Whether it prompts consumers to smile back—or simply reach for a rival’s crisps—remains to be seen.

  • NDTV accelerates growth spending as revenue climbs in transformation push

    NDTV accelerates growth spending as revenue climbs in transformation push

    NEW DELHI: NDTV is pressing the accelerator on its transformation strategy, ramping up investment in marketing and expansion even as revenue growth gains momentum. The Adani-controlled broadcaster posted a 12 per cent increase in half-year revenue to Rs 230 crore whilst completing a Rs 396 crore oversubscribed rights issue and merging four subsidiaries to streamline operations.

    Revenue from operations rose 10 per cent year-on-year to Rs 123 crore in the September quarter on a consolidated basis, reflecting improving traction as the company positions itself for a new era. For the six months ended September, the top line climbed to Rs 230 crore from Rs 205 crore, signalling steady progress in a fiercely competitive media landscape.

    The numbers reveal a company making bold strategic bets. Marketing, distribution and promotional expenses surged 33 per cent to Rs 115 crore for the half-year—a clear signal that management is prioritising audience acquisition and brand visibility over short-term profitability. The September quarter alone saw Rs 58 crore deployed towards growth initiatives, up 29 per cent year-on-year.

    “This is classic growth investing,” said one analyst who tracks the media sector. “NDTV is leveraging its capital raise to build market share and strengthen its competitive position whilst the fundamentals improve.”

    The rights issue, completed on 9 October, was oversubscribed 1.11 times, with proceeds specifically earmarked for expansion, brand-building, debt reduction and corporate purposes. The successful raise increased paid-up capital from Rs 26 crore to Rs 45 crore, providing ammunition for the company’s ambitious reinvention plans.

    NDTV also executed a major structural overhaul, merging NDTV Networks, NDTV Worldwide, NDTV Media and NDTV Labs into the parent company with effect from 1 October. The consolidation, sanctioned by the regional director of the ministry of corporate affairs, is designed to eliminate operational silos and create a more agile organisation. Authorised share capital now stands at Rs 237 crore.

    The broadcaster is simultaneously pursuing inorganic growth. NDTV has entered a binding term sheet to acquire the GoodTimes channel and associated intellectual property from Lifestyle & Media Broadcasting, pending regulatory approval from the ministry of information and broadcasting. The deal would expand the company’s content portfolio and distribution footprint.

    Management changes underscore the focus on operational excellence. Akhil Kumar Gupta, a chartered accountant with 19 years’ experience spanning media, infrastructure, healthcare and entertainment, will assume the chief financial officer role from 1 December. Gupta, who previously held senior positions at Adani Enterprises, Zydus Lifesciences and Bharti Airtel, brings deep expertise in financial transformation, digital systems and strategic decision-making. He replaces Anup Dutta, who reaches superannuation.

    The board also re-appointed independent director Viral Jagdish Doshi for a second three-year term beginning January 2026, ensuring continuity in governance as the company navigates its transition.

    NDTV’s investment phase reflects a calculated gamble: sacrifice near-term margins to capture long-term market share in India’s rapidly evolving media ecosystem. With a freshly capitalised balance sheet, a streamlined corporate structure, and aggressive growth spending, the broadcaster is positioning itself as a serious player in the battle for eyeballs and advertising rupees.

    Whether the strategy succeeds depends on execution—and whether revenue growth can eventually outpace the current marketing blitz. But for now, NDTV is signalling it has both the resources and the resolve to compete. The transformation is underway, and the company isn’t holding back.