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Category: News Headline

  • Jhingan joins IOS in a new defensive strategy off the pitch

    Jhingan joins IOS in a new defensive strategy off the pitch

    MUMBAI: From boots to brand play, Sandesh Jhingan is lining up a new formation. Indian football’s defensive rock, Sandesh Jhingan, is now dribbling into new territory brand management. The 31-year-old centre-back has signed with IOS Sports and Entertainment, marking a strategic off-field move aimed at amplifying his brand presence and widening his impact beyond the beautiful game.

    Jhingan, currently with FC Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL), brings over a decade of international experience to the IOS stable. Since making his debut for India in 2013, the Chandigarh-born defender has racked up more than 50 caps for the national side, captained India in marquee tournaments like the AFC Asian Cup and FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and has become a household name in Indian football.

    Known for his no-nonsense defending, aerial dominance, and vocal leadership, Jhingan has turned out for ISL heavyweights such as Kerala Blasters, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, and Chennaiyin FC. His brief but landmark stint with Croatian club HNK Šibenik in 2021 made him one of the rare Indian players to play in Europe, adding an international edge to his résumé.

    He was named the AIFF Men’s Player of the Year for 2020–21, further cementing his status as one of Asia’s top defenders.

    On signing with IOS, Jhingan said, “I’m excited to join the IOS Sports and Entertainment family and work with a team that has such an impressive track record with India’s top athletes. Their expertise feels like the perfect assist as I look to amplify my story and connect with more people at a deeper level.”

    IOS, known for managing India’s sporting icons like Vijender Singh, Mirabai Chanu, Anju Bobby George, Lovlina Borgohain, and Manpreet Singh, sees Jhingan as a valuable addition to its football playbook.

    “Sandesh represents everything we look for in an athlete exceptional talent, unwavering dedication, and the ability to inspire others,” said IOS COO Rahul Trehan. “His addition strengthens our commitment to supporting India’s sporting heroes across all disciplines.”

    The partnership aims to elevate Jhingan’s brand through holistic management from endorsement deals and media visibility to community initiatives and content-driven storytelling. With football gaining ground as a serious sport-business in India, Jhingan’s play with IOS could be just the pivot the sport needs.

    After all, he’s long been the last line of defence now, he’s ready to be the face of a new offensive.

  • Zee TV heads back to the heartland with Chhoriyan Chali Gaon

    Zee TV heads back to the heartland with Chhoriyan Chali Gaon

    MUMBAI: Zee TV is shaking up its daily primetime with Chhoriyan Chali Gaon, a high-energy, rooted reality format that promises equal parts laughter, drama, and cultural discovery. Premiering 3 August at 9 PM, and airing daily from 9:30 PM, the show is an adaptation of Zee Marathi’s hit format Jau Bai Gavat and is produced by Zee Studios.

    In this social experiment, 11 celebrity contestants leave behind their urban comforts for 60 days of rural living — no gadgets, minimal luxuries, and a crash course in village life. From milking cows to cooking on chulhas, the show blends raw challenges with genuine bonds, under the watchful eye of host Rannvijay Singha.

    The line-up includes Anita Hassanandani, Krishna Shroff, Aishwarya Khare, Sumukhi Suresh, Anjuum Faakih, Rameet Sandhu, Reha Sukheja, Erika Packard, Surabhi Mehra, Samriddhi Mehra and Dolly Javed — each swapping high heels for muddy fields.

    Zee chief content officer Raghavendra Hunsur said, “Our original Zee Marathi format Jau Bai Gavat found success for its honest, culturally rooted storytelling that struck an emotional chord with audiences. With Chhoriyan Chali Gaon, we’ve taken that same core; the fun, the emotions, the authenticity and reimagined it for Zee TV’s wider, national audience. This show reflects our belief in going back to the roots and creating stories that are both entertaining and meaningful. It’s a fresh yet familiar narrative that celebrates the village life of India and the spirited women who call it home.”

    Zee TV chief channel officer, Mangesh Kulkarni said, “At Zee TV, we’ve always believed in formats that don’t just entertain, but spark reflection and emotional connection. With Chhoriyan Chali Gaon, we’re bringing a concept that blends the raw charm of rural India with the resilience of today’s urban woman. We’re excited to see how viewers connect with this unique journey of simplicity, struggle, and self-discovery.”

    With its daily slot, Chhoriyan Chali Gaon is set to become a primetime fixture, offering viewers nostalgia, novelty, and a taste of the simple life, one task at a time.

  • Under 25 crosses 1m downloads, pays out six crore to students

    Under 25 crosses 1m downloads, pays out six crore to students

    MUMBAI : Under 25, the flagship youth platform from Collective Artists Network, has hit one million downloads, cementing its status as one of India’s fastest-growing student-first communities.

    With over 4 lakh monthly active users, the app has become a digital playground where students create, connect and cash in. In just 18 months, it has paid out more than Rs 6 crore to 1.5 lakh students, hosted 600+ events across 25 cities, and powered the creation of 2.5 million pieces of content.

    “This is the largest youth cohort India has ever seen — they are digitally native, culturally aware, and deeply expressive,” said Collective Artists Network founder & group Vijay Subramaniam.“Under 25 has done what few platforms have managed to do: bring this generation together in one place, on their terms. It’s not just an app, it’s a cultural engine built for the future of India.”

    “What excites me most is how quickly this has grown, not just in numbers, but in energy,” said Under 25 CEO Jeel Gandhi. “From students discovering new interests to finding their voice through content or showing up to events across the country, this isn’t just user growth, it’s real community. We’ve built something that belongs to them, and they’re building it with us.”

    Having collaborated with 350+ brands, the platform is now set to supercharge engagement with Season 2 of its in-app campaign, Joyride Through the Universe, offering Rs 10 lakh in rewards.

    For India’s Gen Z, it seems, Under 25 has become the ultimate extracurricular activity.

  • Dr. Fixit walks the talk with Warkaris at Pandharpur Wari

    Dr. Fixit walks the talk with Warkaris at Pandharpur Wari

    MUMBAI : Dr. Fixit, the waterproofing solutions brand from Pidilite Industries, brought its credo of “Geela hai bahar, sukha hai andar” to life during Maharashtra’s revered Pandharpur Wari. In a gesture that blended brand purpose with cultural resonance, the company introduced custom-built walking roofs and mobile shelters to shield thousands of Warkaris from the monsoon downpour along their spiritual trek.

    The mobile roofs, each measuring 8×10 feet, moved with the devotees, while rest shelters dotted the route, offering dry, safe havens for weary pilgrims.

    Pidilite Industries Ltd. CMO Sandeep Tanwani shared, “At Pidilite, we believe our brands must connect with people, moments, and emotions in a meaningful way. Our initiative during the Pandharpur Wari reflects that belief. By walking with the Warkaris and providing shelters, we’ve aimed to support their journey in an unobtrusive yet meaningful manner, deepening our relationship with the community.”

    With over 25 years of waterproofing expertise and more than 1,000 crore sq. ft of protected structures, Dr. Fixit has extended its promise beyond homes — to the very people who make Maharashtra’s cultural heartbeat.

  • Gujarat’s unsung heroes take centre stage at ABP Asmita Sanman Puraskar 2025

    Gujarat’s unsung heroes take centre stage at ABP Asmita Sanman Puraskar 2025

    Mumbai, 29 July 2025 – ABP Asmita honoured the state’s silent trailblazers at the prestigious Asmita Sanman Puraskar 2025 in Ahmedabad. The event celebrated individuals whose grit, innovation and service have quietly reshaped Gujarat’s social, cultural, and economic fabric.

    Chief minister Bhupendra Patel, the chief guest, lauded the awardees as the true force behind Gujarat’s growth, while Shankar Chaudhary, speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, praised them for embodying the state’s resilient spirit.

    The honours spanned diverse fields from Rakesh Patel, who turned a rural government school into a model of excellence, to poet Kavi Rajendra Shukla for his enduring literary impact. Singer Bhoomi Trivedi was feted for her music, actor Siddharth Randeria for his contributions to theatre and cinema, and Paru Jaykrishna, the first woman president of GCCI, for her trailblazing leadership in industry.

    The Maha Sanman went to Dr J.M. Vyas for his groundbreaking work in forensic science and engineering, while grassroots champions like Raskibhai and the villagers of Biliaamba were recognised for reviving kho-kho at the community level.

    From unsung educators to cultural icons, ABP Asmita’s celebration was a reminder that Gujarat’s story is written not only in boardrooms and government offices but in classrooms, playgrounds, and quiet acts of service.

  • CEO pay in India soars to Rs 7.2 crore; CFOs take home Rs 2.3 crore

    CEO pay in India soars to Rs 7.2 crore; CFOs take home Rs 2.3 crore

    MUMBAI: Chief executives at India’s listed companies pocketed an average of Rs 7.2 crore in FY24, according to a new study by executive search firm Resource Bridge. The figure marks a doubling over the past decade, reflecting an annual growth rate of nine per cent. Chief financial officers, meanwhile, earned an average of Rs 2.3 crore — a 1.7-fold rise in the same period.

    The CEO Compensation Report 2025 and CFO Compensation Report 2025, compiled after a three-month analysis of nearly 1,000 annual reports and public financial data, highlight how leadership pay is shaped by sector, geography, and ownership. Manufacturing-sector CEOs remain the best paid, while CFOs in services-led industries top their peer group. Executives in North India command the highest salaries, while those in the East lag consistently behind.

    Ownership matters, too. Multinational corporations continue to outpay Indian-owned firms, with executive compensation spiking sharply once turnover passes Rs 5,000 crore — and again at the Rs 50,000 crore and Rs 1 lakh crore marks.

    To aid boards and promoters, the report debuts a proprietary compensation calculator that benchmarks CEO and CFO salaries based on turnover, sector, ownership, region and financial performance.

    Founded by K. Ramadhurai and Saroja Ramadhurai, Mumbai-based Resource Bridge has built a 20-year legacy focusing exclusively on CEO and CFO appointments. The firm is known for its research-driven counsel on leadership transitions and pay structuring.

  • Naseeruddin Shah steps into J.R.D. Tata’s shoes in Amazon MX Player’s Made in India – A Titan Story

    Naseeruddin Shah steps into J.R.D. Tata’s shoes in Amazon MX Player’s Made in India – A Titan Story

    MUMBAI – On the 121st birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna J.R.D. Tata, Amazon MX Player and Almighty Motion Picture unveiled the first look of their upcoming series Made in India – A Titan Story. The series sees veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah bring the legendary industrialist to life in a cinematic retelling of ambition, innovation, and nation-building.

    Produced by Prabhleen Sandhu, founder of Almighty Motion Picture, and directed by Robby Grewal with writing by Karan Vyas, the series charts the extraordinary journey of J.R.D. Tata and his pivotal role in shaping modern India.

    Joining Shah is Jim Sarbh as Xerxes Desai, the visionary founder of Titan, alongside Namita Dubey, Vaibhav Tatwawaadi, Kaveri Seth, Lakshvir Saran, and Paresh Ganatra.

    Slated for release early next year, Made in India – A Titan Story will stream free on Amazon MX Player across mobile, CTVs, the Amazon shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, and Airtel Xstream, promising audiences a front-row seat to the story of an empire built on grit and genius.
     

  • MovieVerse Studios and Beacon Media forge new alliance

    MovieVerse Studios and Beacon Media forge new alliance

    MUMBAI: MovieVerse Studios, the mainstream content arm of IN10 Media Network, has partnered with Beacon Media to launch a first-of-its-kind global content alliance aimed at amplifying narratives from the Global South. Targeting over 3 billion viewers, this collaboration is designed to connect emerging cultural powerhouses—spanning Hollywood, India, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America—through borderless storytelling.

    IN10 Media Network managing director, Aditya Pittie said, “In today’s connected world, the future of storytelling depends on meaningful collaborations that bring together creativity, technology, and reach. This partnership encourages the industry to work more closely, fostering a diverse and inclusive content ecosystem that resonates with global audiences,”.

    “We are entering an era where collaboration, not competition, is the key to success,” said Beacon Media chairman Manoj Narender Madnani. “This alliance is not just about creating content—it’s about reshaping the global entertainment landscape, ensuring that diverse stories reach audiences across all formats and are made accessible worldwide. It’s 1+1=11 in action—where strategic partnerships, such as this one with IN10 Media, backed by visionary entrepreneurs like Aditya Pittie and Anand Mahindra, multiply impact.”

    The partnership will develop feature films, premium series, and bite-sized micro-series for platforms such as Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. The alliance’s first slate includes a Malayalam-language feature film for global release, adaptations of Dr Deepak Chopra’s bestselling fiction, and a range of digital-first projects built for next-generation audiences.

    MovieVerse Studios CEO Vivek Krishnani said, ‘’The Global South is home to some of the most dynamic and culturally rich stories waiting to be told. With this partnership, we are ensuring these culturally rooted narratives reach the global stage in the most impactful way possible. We are excited to develop content that resonates across geographies and platforms, whether it is through compelling cinematic storytelling or strategic digital-first initiatives.”

    With Saudi Arabia and the UAE emerging as major investors in India’s entertainment and technology sectors, the partnership aims to deepen economic and creative collaboration between the regions.

    To lead its ambitious slate, Beacon Media has named author and screenwriter Manini Priyan as head of content. The company also has a production alliance with Fadi Ismail, former director of drama at MBC Group, to create Arabic-language digital content at scale.

  • Glow and behold, APAC drives the global self-care cart into overdrive

    Glow and behold, APAC drives the global self-care cart into overdrive

    MUMBAI: Glow with the flow, APAC is putting the “care” in self-care like never before. From double-digit shopping days to double-duty products, Asia Pacific shoppers are rewriting the beauty playbook by blending wellness and beauty in one irresistible glow-up. According to Criteo’s Global Health & Beauty Pulse 2025, this region isn’t just riding the beauty boom, it’s fuelling it, one premium cart at a time.

    The report, based on data from beauty brands, ecommerce partners, and 14,000 plus shoppers globally, shows that during Q4 2024’s mega shopping festivals 10/10, 11/11, and 12/12, APAC shoppers triggered seismic spikes across self-care categories. Power flossers surged by a gleaming 353 per cent, deodorants and antiperspirants spiked 224 per cent, makeup swatched up 196 per cent, while skincare (up 154 per cent), massage oils (128 per cent), and ear drops (148 per cent) also saw radiant gains.

    The appetite for premium wellness products also signals a shift in spending behaviour: APAC consumers are buying fewer, but better.

    Year-on-year sales in Q2 2025 reflect this trend: health and beauty products rose 5 per cent in APAC, with order values growing by 6.78 per cent. Globally, EMEA led with a 14 per cent rise in sales, and the Americas followed at 1 per cent. In terms of order value, the Americas saw the highest bump at 9.8 per cent, while EMEA trailed with 4.36 per cent.

    APAC consumers, however, stand out as confident, discovery-driven shoppers 40 per cent of health and beauty buyers are first-time users of the brand. This open-mindedness, combined with omnichannel habits, is creating fertile ground for marketers.

    Globally, 84 per cent of beauty buyers have either maintained or increased their spending in the last six months up 11 points since 2023. Shoppers are also digitally engaged: 57 per cent discover products via marketplaces, while 52 per cent rely on search engines.

    And the channel switch is real 48 per cent of beauty consumers research online but buy in-store, while 41 per cent do the reverse. For brands, that means AI-driven tools are no longer optional, they’re essential to stitch together the journey from scroll to shelf.

    “Beauty shoppers today are deeply informed, digitally savvy, and ready to try new brands,” said Criteo India country head Medhavi Singh. “This report reaffirms beauty’s emotional resilience as a category driven by personalisation, relevance, and real-time discovery.”

    Criteo’s data suggests that for brands to win in this glow economy, they must be omnipresent, omnichannel, and on point. Think retail media, AI-powered product recommendations, and frictionless shopping across all touchpoints.

    In a world of smarter skincare, fragrant purchases, and flossers that fly off virtual shelves, one thing’s clear beauty’s new frontier is cross-category, cross-platform, and deeply connected to wellness.

  • Global South stories take spotlight as IN10 and Beacon join forces

    Global South stories take spotlight as IN10 and Beacon join forces

    MUMBAI: Content knows no borders and neither do these storytellers. In a bold cinematic handshake that spans continents, Movieverse Studios, IN10 Media Network’s content arm has inked a global alliance with UAE-based Beacon Media to turbocharge stories from the Global South for a global audience of over three billion. The goal? A borderless entertainment ecosystem powered by co-creation and cultural exchange from India to Latin America, Africa to the Middle East.

    “Our vision is global storytelling without fences,” said Movieverse Studios CEO Vivek Krishnani who promised a slate that embraces Malayalam feature films, micro-series for Instagram Reels and Tiktok, and even adaptations of Deepak Chopra’s bestselling fiction. “The Global South is bursting with stories that deserve a global stage and we’re building that bridge.”

    This isn’t just lip service. Among the first projects are a Malayalam-language feature and a wave of digital-first series aimed at next-gen viewers, alongside a premium slate of films and web shows under active development. With this, IN10 is aiming not just for reach but resonance.

    Beacon Media, helmed by chairman Manoj Narender Madnani, dubbed the alliance “1+1=11 in action,”a nod to how collaboration between legacy platforms and new-age players can create outsized impact. “This isn’t about competing,” he said. “It’s about multiplying reach and cultural capital.”

    The collaboration leverages deepening cultural and investment ties between India, Saudi Arabia and the UAE countries fast becoming central to the global entertainment and tech conversation. It also ropes in big industry names: Beacon’s Arabic production arm works with Fadi Ismail, the former MBC Group drama director, while acclaimed writer Manini Priyan has been appointed head of content for Beacon’s original programming.

    “This is about future-proof storytelling,” said IN10 Media Network MD Aditya Pittie. “We’re blending Hollywood-grade scale with deeply rooted Indian storytelling. This is not just an alliance, it’s a movement.”

    With content categories ranging from short-form social storytelling to high-budget features, and formats ready to travel across languages and regions, the IN10-Beacon alliance is poised to become a game-changer in reshaping the global entertainment map from the Global South to screens worldwide.

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