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  • Kay Beauty makes historic UK debut at Space NK

    Kay Beauty makes historic UK debut at Space NK

    MUMBAI: Kay Beauty, the make-up brand co-founded by actor Katrina Kaif and Indian beauty retailer Nykaa, has made its first international move with an exclusive launch at Space NK in the UK. The tie-up marks the first time a home-grown Indian beauty brand has been stocked by the British luxury chain.

    Founded in 2019, Kay Beauty has built its reputation on performance-led, skin-friendly formulas and an inclusive brand voice, encapsulated in its slogans #ItsKayToBeYou and #MakeupThatKares. Its portfolio of 197 products across eyes, lips and face will now sit alongside Space NK’s curated line-up of global labels.

    Kaif called the launch “a powerful opportunity to connect with a global community that shares our values.” Nykaa co-founder & head of its owned bands Adwaita Nayar described the step as “more than just a brand milestone,” positioning Kay Beauty as proof that Indian consumer labels can compete on the global stage. 
    Space NK  chief commercial officer Margaret Mitchell said the addition would help the retailer better serve Britain’s growing south Asian community while offering “something genuinely unique”.

    The UK launch brings bestsellers such as the Hydra Crème Lipstick, Hydrating Foundation and Velvet Creme Blush, as well as a range of kajals infused with chamomile and ceramides.

    Kay Beauty, named Vogue India’s Beauty Brand of the Year in 2022, has already carved a cult following at home with 1.6 million social media followers, 700-plus retail outlets and more than 2.5 million customers. With Space NK’s 80-store network and online reach, the brand is betting that its blend of inclusivity, heritage and innovation will resonate with British consumers too.

  • Royal Enfield rolls out ‘art of motorcycling’ S5 with launch of ‘cine-verse’

    Royal Enfield rolls out ‘art of motorcycling’ S5 with launch of ‘cine-verse’

    MUMBAI: Lights, camera… kick-start! Royal Enfield has shifted gears on creativity with the launch of Season 5 of its global platform, ‘art of motorcycling’, this time with a cinematic twist called ‘cine-verse’. The campaign challenges artists across 12 countries to imagine themselves as stars of their own film and condense the story into a striking movie poster with a Royal Enfield taking centre stage.

    And in a first, the platform is opening the throttle for a younger crowd with the debut of AOM young talent, a category for creators aged 11–18. These budding artists will share the same stage and spotlight as seasoned professionals, with their work showcased at Motoverse 2025 in Goa.

    The jury line-up is nothing short of blockbuster: Harun Robert (Rob) of M.A.D, poster-design maestro Raj Khatri, Colombian street artist Diana Ordóñez, and Indonesian pop-art maverick Muklay. Each guest will not only judge entries but also create their own cine-verse posters, which will be turned into exclusive merchandise.

    Last year’s edition drew over 42,000 entries from 12 countries, reaching more than 23 million people worldwide. Season 5 promises to be bigger, bolder and more global than ever, blending cinema, art, and motorcycling’s freewheeling spirit.

    Artists can submit digital or hand-drawn works under regular or young talent categories, with winners earning an all-expenses-paid trip to Motoverse 2025, where their creations will take the spotlight at the AOM Arena.

    Here is the link for registration – https://www.royalenfield.com/in/en/art-of-motorcycling/theme/ 
     

  • Zee Telugu hits the high notes with Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs launch

    Zee Telugu hits the high notes with Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs launch

    MUMBAI: Zee Telugu is tuning up for a melodious ride as it launches the 17th season of its iconic singing reality show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, this time in the Li’l Champs avatar. The musical journey begins on 30 August at 9 pm, with fresh young talent ready to steal hearts every Saturday night.

    Fronting the show is the ever-charismatic Sudheer, whose quick wit and charm promise to keep the energy buzzing. Guiding the contestants is a star-studded panel: singer SP Shailaja, director Anil Ravipudi, lyricist Ananth Sriram, and actor Niharika Konidela each bringing their own flair for music, cinema and storytelling. Together, they’ll mentor the budding singers while keeping audiences hooked with insights and banter.

    The line-up of contestants is as vibrant as the stage itself. Advith turned heads with a spirited take on Chaaruseela, complete with a comical American accent, while Kruthi charmed with a soothing rendition of Kokilamma. Nithyasree electrified the crowd with Magallu Vatti Maayagalle, and Aliya Fathima from Kerala proved that music knows no language barrier with her soulful Sirimalle Poova. Meanwhile, Adharv amped up the festive vibe with Dhandalayya, and Lakshmi Chowdary wowed with her jaw-dropping dual voice modulation. A surprise highlight came when singer Sameera Bharadwaj and her daughter took the stage for a playful mom-daughter duet of Kathalenno Chepparu, blending melody with comedy.

    With a mix of powerhouse voices, pint-sized confidence, and a panel that knows how to strike the right chord, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs promises to be less of a contest and more of a celebration of music, childhood and pure joy.

  • KBC’s season 17 draws in marquee sponsors, Sony LIV ramps up play-along push

    KBC’s season 17 draws in marquee sponsors, Sony LIV ramps up play-along push

    MUMBAI: Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) is back for its 17th season, and the big brands are queueing up once again. Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV have rolled out the latest edition of India’s most iconic quiz show, hosted as ever by Amitabh Bachchan, with a line-up of sponsors as weighty as the prize money.

    Maruti has signed on as lead automobile partner, sweetening the stakes by giving away new cars to every Crorepati on the hot seat and to the overall Play Along winner. Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) has returned to underline its mass-market connect, while UltraTech Cement and Pidilite’s Dr Fixit have doubled down on their aspirational pitches to smaller cities and family households.

    All told, 15 brands from categories spanning automobiles, cement, home-building products, condiments, clothing, payment gateways and mouth fresheners have joined forces with the show this season. Their faith underscores KBC’s ability to deliver reach, recall and resonance across India.

    Sony LIV is once again pushing its “second-screen” play, with the return of KBC Play Along and the hugely popular Har Din Lakhpati feature. The format, which lets viewers answer questions live via the app, has turned KBC from a television property into a nationwide interactive event since debuting in 2018.

    Sony LIV, head of ad sales revenue Ranjana Mangla said KBC “has stood as a bedrock of consistency for advertisers—delivering unmatched reach, deep engagement, and a cultural resonance that few formats can claim.”

    HPCL’s CH srinivas hailed the programme’s “spirit of knowledge and the power of questions,” while UltraTech’s Ajay Dang called the Sony Liv tie-up “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to cement aspirational journeys in tier 2 and 3 towns. Swati Jha of Pidilite added that both KBC and Dr Fixit “have been trusted companions in people’s lives” for more than two decades.

    With Sony LIV reporting over 100m app downloads and pushing an expanding roster of sports rights, films and originals, KBC remains its most bankable franchise—blending nostalgia, mass appeal and advertiser trust in equal measure.

  • India Today tops Comscore July 2025 with 295 mn digital news readers

    India Today tops Comscore July 2025 with 295 mn digital news readers

    MUMBAI: When it comes to news online, India Today is truly today’s choice. The India Today Group has clinched the No. 1 spot in Comscore’s July 2025 rankings, emerging as the biggest digital news network in the country with a total digital population of 295 million unique visitors. That towering figure puts the Group ahead of Network18’s 275 million and well clear of Times Internet Limited’s 204 million, cementing its dominance in India’s cut-throat digital news race. In the News/Information category, no other publisher reached as many eyeballs, marking India Today as the go-to destination for nearly 300 million Indians each month.

    The secret sauce? A blend of credible journalism, innovative storytelling formats, and a relentless push across platforms that keeps its content everywhere the audience is. For advertisers, that scale is gold dust: no other digital newsroom commands a reach this wide or consistent.

    In an era where trust and traffic rarely go hand in hand, India Today seems to have cracked the code serving both with impact. With nearly one in four Indians online visiting its platforms, the Group isn’t just chasing the news cycle, it’s setting the benchmark for how news is consumed in the digital age.

  • Game on as Parliament clears Bill giving esports its sporting stripes

    Game on as Parliament clears Bill giving esports its sporting stripes

    MUMBAI: India just hit “start” on a new sporting era. On 21 August, Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, a landmark move that bans all online money games but officially elevates esports to the league of legitimate competitive sport. For the first time, esports has been uncoupled from gambling, betting, and fantasy money play, and placed firmly under the ministry of youth affairs and sports, which will set tournament standards, support academies, and weave esports into India’s sporting fabric.

    The timing was pixel-perfect. Days earlier, 19-year-old Ved Bamb, better known by his gamer tag Beelzeboy, became India’s first esports World Champion by defeating Spain’s Leo Marin at the Pokémon Go Worlds. Esports has been steadily climbing the podium: officially recognised by India in 2022, it debuted as a medal sport at the Asian Games in Hangzhou and snagged a historic bronze in DOTA 2 at the 2022 Commonwealth Esports Championships. Next year, it returns to the Asian Games medal tally and will also feature at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in October.

    Back home, esports is levelling up from grassroots to glory. This year’s Khelo India Youth Games in Bihar featured esports as a demo sport, with states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland, and Bihar championing tournaments. Nationally, the Waves Esports Championships, backed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, signalled that esports is no longer niche, but mainstream. Nodwin Gaming’s flagship Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series (BGMS), with a Rs 1.5 crore prize pool in its fourth season and female athletes competing for the first time, shows the professional rigour that mirrors cricket or football.

    “The Bill unlocks a zero-to-hero pipeline from state-level championships to global majors,” said Nodwin Gaming cxo-founder & MD Akshat Rathee which is grooming players for EVO, Esports Nations Cup, and even Counter-Strike Majors. S8ul, India’s most celebrated esports org, has its athletes training in Navi Mumbai bootcamps and recently competed at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, where the prize pool crossed Rs 600 crore. Nodwin Gaming co-founder Animesh Agarwal called the government’s clarity a “game-changer” that will win parents’ trust and bring more young talent into the fold.

    The ecosystem’s growth isn’t just about skill but also kit. With PC and console titles set to feature in the 2026 Asian Games and possibly the Olympic Esports Games in 2027, high-performance gear is becoming non-negotiable. Cyberpowerpc India COO Vishal Parekh noted: “If cricket needs pitches, esports needs world-class rigs.” His company has donated PCs worth lakhs to bridge the infrastructure gap and prepare India’s next champions.

    As India marks National Sports Day, esports now stands shoulder to shoulder with traditional sports. With structured training, global tournaments, and government backing, the nation’s gamers are no longer just chasing high scores, they’re chasing history.

  • Sweet victory as Fortune cooks up record 800 kg modak for Ganesh Chaturthi

    Sweet victory as Fortune cooks up record 800 kg modak for Ganesh Chaturthi

    MUMBAI: When it comes to Ganesh Chaturthi, size clearly does matter especially if you’re serving up an 800 kg modak. Fortune Foods, India’s No. 1 staples brand and part of AWL Agri Business Ltd (formerly Adani Wilmar Ltd), has officially entered the World Record Book of India with the “Biggest Modak Using Traditional Ingredients.”

    Crafted from Fortune Besan, Fortune Sugar, milk and mawa, the mammoth sweet took centre stage at Girgaon Cha Raja, one of Mumbai’s oldest and most revered mandals. The giant creation wasn’t just a crowd-puller but also a statement of Fortune’s presence in 1 out of every 3 Indian households. With 5,000 sq. ft. of branding at the pandal, Fortune made sure its name was as much a part of the celebration as the devotional chants.

    The brand went full throttle with its 360-degree festive campaign rolling out branding across 25 pandals in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Nagpur, covering an eye-popping 166,800 sq. ft. Add to that Mygate activations in 132 societies, branding in 800 plus lifts, two LED screens at Lalbaugh Cha Raja, and a quirky digital contest where users built virtual Ganeshas to unlock festive greetings. Influencers only helped sweeten the buzz.

    AWL Agri Business Ltd joint president of sales & marketing Mukesh Mishra summed it up: “At the heart of every festival lies food, and for Ganesh Chaturthi, nothing says devotion like modak. We wanted to celebrate tradition at scale.” The Girgaon Cha Raja Mandal echoed the sentiment, calling the unveiling a “historic moment that blended tradition with grandeur.”

    Founded in 1928, Girgaon Cha Raja is known for its eco-friendly clay idol and emphasis on heritage over spectacle. This year, Fortune’s record-breaking sweet offering gave devotees a story to remember proving once again that festivals are as much about flavour as they are about faith.

  • UMI strikes the right chord with Maddock Films in global music alliance

    UMI strikes the right chord with Maddock Films in global music alliance

    MUMBAI: The movie business just got a new soundtrack partner and this time, it’s playing to a global beat. Universal Music India (UMI), the Indian arm of Universal Music Group, has inked a strategic tie-up with Maddock Films and its new music label, Mad For Mussic, founded by producer-director Dinesh Vijan. The deal will see UMI serve as Maddock’s worldwide strategic partner for future film soundtracks and allied offerings.

    For UMI, it’s more than just a duet, it’s a full-blown re-entry into India’s most dominant music category: film soundtracks. With UMG’s global network as its amplifier, Maddock’s repertoire will now find international stages, while UMI cements its foothold in a market where movies and music are inseparable.

    Maddock Films, which has carved its niche with hits like Stree, Bhediya, Munjya and the upcoming Thama, has long treated music as central to its storytelling. Its chartbuster “Pardesiya” from Param Sundari is a case in point, having ruled social media and streaming platforms alike. “Our cinema is the cinema of real India,” said Vijan. “Music has always been one of its pillars. With UMG, we’re ready to scale that ambition.”

    Universal, of course, is no stranger to Hindi film soundtracks. Its catalogue has spanned classics from Sholay and Deewar to Devdas and Bombay. But this partnership marks a sharp pivot to contemporary hindi film industry, with an eye on both local dominance and global resonance.

    Calling the deal “a crucial step forward,” UMG’s Adam Granite hailed Vijan as “a first-class storyteller with an unparalleled ear for music.” UMI’s India MD Sanujeet Bhujabal called Maddock’s output “fearless, forward-thinking storytelling,” while India SA chairman & CEO Devraj Sanyal noted that the move comes at “the perfect time” for UMI to re-enter the Indian film music market.

    With Maddock’s track record of genre-defining cinema from horror-comedies to mainstream hits and UMI’s global muscle, the stage is set for Hindi soundtracks to travel farther and louder than ever. Call it a match made in musical heaven, with India’s stories and songs primed for a world tour.

  • Z rolls out Zee Spotlight; Hyundai drives in as inaugural partner

    Z rolls out Zee Spotlight; Hyundai drives in as inaugural partner

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises has launched Zee Spotlight, a high-impact advertising package under its Z Rise initiative, with Hyundai Motor India stepping in as the exclusive first partner.

    Billed as a clutter-busting innovation, Zee Spotlight combines premium brand touchpoints across general entertainment and movie channels — from stings, branded windows and in-show funnel placements to carousels, QR-code astons, L-bands and tags. The package is also designed to extend onto Zee5, ensuring brands reach audiences seamlessly across broadcast and digital in line with the AIDA model of awareness, interest, desire and action.

    Laxmi Shetty, head of advertisement revenue for broadcast and digital at Zee, said the move was about “reimagining how brands engage with audiences in a fragmented media ecosystem.”

    Hyundai’s avp and vertical head of marketing, Virat Khullar, called the tie-up “a cutting-edge platform that redefines brand storytelling,” adding that the partnership would deepen connections with consumers across India’s entertainment landscape.

    With Zee Spotlight, the network is pitching a sharper value proposition to advertisers: high-frequency, high-visibility brand presence baked into viewers’ content journeys, with Hyundai leading the charge.

  • Milind Soman gets a healthy slice of fun in The Health Factory’s new film

    Milind Soman gets a healthy slice of fun in The Health Factory’s new film

    MUMBAI: Even the fittest man in India can get schooled especially when it comes to bread. In its latest campaign, The Health Factory (THF), makers of India’s first zero maida and protein bread, ropes in fitness icon Milind Soman for a witty twist that puts health on the daily menu. The brand film flips the script with humour at its core: a bemused Milind finds himself playfully corrected by health-obsessed youngsters who introduce him to “the fittest bread in town.” The irony is deliberate positioning THF as the everyday essential that champions exactly what Milind embodies: authenticity, simplicity, and consistency in health.

    The campaign is part of THF’s rebranding push under its philosophy All for Health. Health for All. With refreshed packaging, clean-label promises, and a sharper brand voice, THF wants to shift focus from being “just the zero maida bread brand” back to being a lifestyle choice for better eating.

    “We wanted to bring the spotlight back to The Health Factory as the brand, not just the product,” said The Health Factory senior brand manager Meghraj Bangera, noting that Milind’s cross-generational appeal made him the perfect fit. The Health Factory CEO Vinay Maheshwari added, “Health shouldn’t be complicated, it’s about simple, right choices every day.”

    For Milind, the fit was natural: “Bread is a staple in so many diets. Making it healthier without losing taste is such a powerful idea,” he said.

    With a presence in 16 cities and retail, q-commerce, and e-commerce channels, THF has already entered over 2 million households across India. Now, with Milind in its corner and a playful slice of humour, the brand is hoping to make every bite count in its mission to turn bread into a symbol of cleaner eating.