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  • Cars24 launches Care Plus to offer full support for used car buyers

    Cars24 launches Care Plus to offer full support for used car buyers

    MUMBAI: Why should buying a used car feel like buying a mystery box? Cars24 says not anymore. Cars24 has just fired up a game-changer for Indian car buyers with the launch of Care+, an all-in-one post-sale ownership plan that promises to take the stress out of second-hand car purchases. Rolling out across major cities and soon pan-India, the plan offers an integrated mix of extended warranty, annual servicing, 24×7 roadside assistance, and even a guaranteed resale value all bundled into a single offering.

    In a market where more than 80 per cent of used car buyers feel uncertain after the sale, Care+ aims to flip the script. According to internal data, 65 per cent of buyers have never received warranty or post-sale support, 70 per cent are clueless about resale value, and nearly half end up footing bills for repairs that should’ve been covered.

    Enter Care+, designed to remove the guesswork and offer clarity from the get-go:

    ●    Extended Warranty: Up to 3 years or 45,000 km on key components including engine and AC, with national repair access and free pickup/drop.

    ●    Annual Servicing: Certified technicians, real-time tracking, genuine parts and freebies like wheel alignment.

    ●    24×7 Roadside Assistance: For flat tyres, fuel issues, jumpstarts and minor repairs, with towing up to 40 km.

    ●    Assured Buyback: A guaranteed resale value from day one, making upgrades easy after 12 months.

    “We’ve seen that trust in the used car market comes down to two things clarity and support,” said Cars24 Co-founder and CMO Gajendra Jangid. “Care+ isn’t just another feature. It’s a mindset shift. It tells customers they’re not on their own after the sale.”

    Since its soft launch, Care+ has already been adopted by over 1,000 customers in three cities, with a glowing 4.8/5 satisfaction score. Cars24 expects more than half of its buyers to opt into Care+ by the year’s end, a bold indicator that consumers are hungry for post-sale certainty.

    With Care+, Cars24 becomes the first platform in India’s used car segment to offer a tech-enabled ownership experience that goes well beyond the transaction. In a space plagued by patchy support and limited service guarantees, Care+ might just be the much-needed tune-up the industry didn’t know it needed.

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  • Zomato’s ‘Fuel Your Hustle’ campaign serves a hot tribute to India’s silent strivers

    Zomato’s ‘Fuel Your Hustle’ campaign serves a hot tribute to India’s silent strivers

    MUMBAI: Zomato is dishing out a power-packed ode to perseverance with its latest campaign, ‘Fuel Your Hustle’, starring a heavyweight cast of Indian icons: Shah Rukh Khan, Mary Kom, AR Rahman, and Jasprit Bumrah.

    The emotionally charged campaign spotlights the sweat behind the stardom, tracing each personality’s journey through rare archival footage — some of it never seen before — and gritty behind-the-scenes moments from iconic matches, studios, and film sets. The film is underscored by a stirring track from Kalmi (Nikhil Kalimireddy), the voice behind the viral anthem “Big Dawgs”.

    In a world chasing instant wins, ‘Fuel Your Hustle’ flips the script. It’s a celebration of those long, unglamorous hours of hustle — whether it’s SRK’s early theatre days, Mary Kom’s fight against the odds as a mother and champion, Rahman’s studio grind, or Bumrah’s rise from the nets to global cricketing glory.

     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A post shared by Zomato (@zomato)

     

     

     

    Commenting on the campaign, Zomato marketing Sahibjeet Singh Sawhney said, “This campaign is for a new generation of doers, a reminder that even the stars they look up to started small, stumbled, and kept going. It’s a cheer for the millions of Indians building something, following dreams, caring for loved ones and for themselves, even when it’s hard and no one’s clapping.”

    “We’re rooting for those chasing what they care deeply about and showing up for it consistently. Food is just their fuel and we’re glad to be a small part of their journey,” he added.

    Posted by Deepinder Goyal, Zomato’s CEO, and live across YouTube, Instagram, and outdoor touchpoints, the campaign rolls out as a full-throttle 360-degree blitz across digital, print, and social media.

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  • Manoj Nair takes off as marketing director, India & subcontinent, at Saudi Tourism Authority

    Manoj Nair takes off as marketing director, India & subcontinent, at Saudi Tourism Authority

    MUMBAI: Manoj Nair has been appointed marketing director for India and the subcontinent at the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), marking a pivotal move in STA’s push to deepen its footprint across one of its fastest-growing outbound travel markets.

    Nair was previously CEO of Sartha Global Marketing and Mileage Communications, where he represented marquee tourism boards including Brand USA, Visit California, Hong Kong Tourism Board, and TripAdvisor. With over 20 years of experience in the travel and tourism sector, his career has spanned brand-building, customer-centric innovation, and business growth.

    Before his CEO innings, Nair led marketing at FCM Travel Solutions, the Indian arm of Flight Centre Travel Group, where he helped sharpen the brand’s edge in a crowded marketplace. His earlier stints with Thomas Cook and Kuoni further cemented his reputation as a marketer with a sharp global lens and local nuance.

    A recipient of the Most Influential Marketing Leader title from the World Marketing Congress, Nair holds degrees from Mumbai University, IIM Kolkata, and an international MBA from Marketing Week London. He has also advised IIM Sirmaur, India’s only IIM offering a tourism-focused MBA programme.

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  • Rohit Jangra rises to senior director, integrated planning at dentsu

    Rohit Jangra rises to senior director, integrated planning at dentsu

    MUMBAI: Rohit Jangra has been promoted to senior director, integrated planning at dentsu, marking another milestone in his steadily rising career within the agency’s planning and strategy ranks.

    Jangra, who joined dentsu in 2017 as lead media manager, has worn many hats since, climbing to group head in 2018, associate director in 2021, and director in 2022, before stepping into his newest role. His journey is a masterclass in consistency, curiosity, and campaign craft.

    Academically, Jangra holds a postgraduate diploma in advertising and public relations from K.C. College, Churchgate, specialising in media planning, along with a bachelor’s degree in mass media (advertising) from Birla College of Arts, Science & Commerce.

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  • Profit scripted, as Network18 bounces back in Q1 FY 26

    Profit scripted, as Network18 bounces back in Q1 FY 26

    MUMBAI: Who needs a plot twist when your earnings season delivers one? Network18 has returned to the profit stage with a Q1 performance that reads more like a financial thriller than a media earnings report. For the quarter ended 30 June 2025, Network18 Media & Investments Limited reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 148.85 crore, reversing a net loss of Rs 195.36 crore from the same period last year. The surprise twist? A windfall from revaluing its stake in Eenadu Television Private Limited (ETPL), which contributed Rs 150.64 crore as an exceptional gain after ETPL ceased to be an associate effective 7 July 2025.

    On a standalone basis, the plot thickens further Network18 clocked a net profit of Rs 516.17 crore, a sharp rebound from a loss of Rs 74.65 crore in Q1 FY25. This included an exceptional income of Rs 587.01 crore due to the revaluation of its 24.5 per cent stake in ETPL.

    Operating revenue, however, told a more subdued tale. Consolidated revenue from operations came in at Rs 467.86 crore, down sharply from Rs 3,140.92 crore in the year-ago period. A large part of this decline stems from the exclusion of subsidiaries like Studio18 Media and Indiacast Media Distribution, which ceased to be part of the group in late 2024.

    Expenses followed the trend, with total costs at Rs 550.12 crore, down from Rs 3,509.46 crore last year. Key cost heads like marketing and distribution (Rs 113.73 crore) and operational costs (Rs 100.30 crore) reflected the reshaped structure of the business.

    The company’s earnings per share (EPS) swung from -Rs 0.82 last year to Rs 0.97 in the current quarter, highlighting the impact of exceptional items.

    Among key line items, employee costs stood at Rs 185.61 crore, while finance cost came in at Rs 52.30 crore. The company recorded depreciation and amortisation expenses of Rs 34.12 crore, and reported other income of Rs 10.15 crore for the quarter.  

    In the fine print, the company noted that despite ETPL no longer being an associate, it retains economic interest in the 24.5 per cent equity stake. The financial results also include profits from joint ventures and associates, amounting to Rs 70.32 crore, further cushioning bottom line performance.

    With cost optimisation, consolidation, and strategic divestments sharpening the focus, Network18 seems to be scripting a leaner, more profitable arc for FY26. Whether this is the start of a blockbuster run or a one-off cameo remains to be seen. But for now, the credits roll on a profitable note.

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  • Aditi Guha joins Prime Video as head of programming & content insights

    Aditi Guha joins Prime Video as head of programming & content insights

    MUMBAI: Amazon Prime Video has roped in media veteran Aditi Guha as head of programming & content insights for Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios India. She joined the content giant in May 2025 and made the announcement today on Linkedin. 

    With over two decades of experience across media planning, consumer insight, content strategy and product monetisation, Guha is set to shape the streamer’s data-led storytelling and business decisions.

    Prior to this, Guha served as senior product researcher at Netflix APAC, where she led consumer insight across South Korea, Japan, India, Australia, and Southeast Asia, focusing on partnerships, churn, retention and commerce growth. Before that, she held multiple leadership roles at The Walt Disney Co in Singapore, launching Disney+ in Southeast Asia and building audience strategies across studios, media networks and licensing verticals.

    Her career began in media planning at Universal McCann and WPP, before she made her mark at Viacom18’s MTV Insight Studio and ABP News. Guha is an alumna of Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication and has earned certifications from NUS Business School, IdeoU, and General Assembly in analytics and design thinking.

    With content wars heating up in the Indian OTT space, her appointment signals Amazon’s continued push to double down on data-fuelled programming decisions, local insights and international storytelling chops.

  • Artport teams up with The Good Doll to stitch purpose into airport retail

    Artport teams up with The Good Doll to stitch purpose into airport retail

    MUMBAI: Artport, the conscious retail vertical by India Retail and Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. (IRHPL), has announced a heart-led partnership with The Good Doll, the Shark Tank India-featured social enterprise. The result: an exclusive, limited-edition collection of handcrafted, upcycled fabric dolls—now landing at Artport stores across India’s major airports.

    But this isn’t just another airport souvenir. It’s retail with roots — and purpose. Each doll is stitched with love by a collective of over 95 women artisans from the Nilgiris, many of whom are first-generation income earners. Made from pre-consumer textile waste, the dolls are designed to be body-positive, waste-free, and brimming with stories.

    “ARTPORT is redefining the airport shopping experience. We’re not just offering products—we’re offering purpose,” said Naresh Sharma, CEO,IRHPL Group of Companies and Artport is one of the brands from IRHPL. “Through our partnership with The Good Doll, we are proud to amplify the voices and skills of women artisans, while showing that conscious commerce can thrive even in high-footfall infrastructure spaces.”

    No two dolls are alike — each one stitched with intention and individuality. The launch aligns with IRHPL’s broader CSR vision: to create circular, sustainable economies that celebrate local artisanship while reducing environmental impact.

    “Our dolls are more than fabric—they represent resilience, dignity, and economic independence,” said Suhas Ramegowda, Co-Founder, The Good Doll. “Thanks to ARTPORT by IRHPL, these stories now have a national platform, connecting travellers to the heart of rural India.”

    For travellers, it’s a new kind of carry-on: a story of empowerment, stitched into fabric, ready for the journey ahead.

     

     

  • Medusa Beverages taps One Source to brew stronger brand buzz

    Medusa Beverages taps One Source to brew stronger brand buzz

    MUMBAI: In a move to dial up its narrative and pop the cap on sharper communication, Medusa Beverages has partnered with One Source, an integrated marketing consultancy known for its multi-sector mojo. The mandate: to manage reputation, shape strategy, and amplify Medusa’s brand voice across key markets.

    Founded in 2017, Medusa has carved out a distinctive niche in India’s beer scene with its mid-strength 5.9 per cent brews that hit the sweet spot between flavour and buzz. In just six years, it’s become Delhi’s third-largest beer brand, commanding a 7 per cent market share. Its portfolio includes Medusa Beer, Medusa Air, Medusa Premium Strong Ale, and its most recent collab — the fire-breathing Medusa House of the Dragon Beer, in partnership with Warner Bros.

    The communications brief will be led by Dyutiman Basu, reporting into Honey Mehra, co-lead for corporate communication, alongside One Source’s national team.

    “At Medusa Beverages, we have always believed in pushing boundaries and creating a unique beer-drinking experience for our consumers. As we continue to expand our footprint, our partnership with One Source will enable us to craft compelling narratives, engage with our audience more effectively, and strengthen our position as a category leader in the industry,” said Medusa Beverages founder & CEO Avneet Singh.

    One Source managing director Sandeep Rao added, “Medusa Beverages is a brand that has redefined the beer-drinking culture in India. Our approach as a consultancy is to align with our partners’ business objectives and drive impactful communication strategies. We are excited to work with Medusa Beverages and look forward to building a strong, resonant brand story that connects with beer enthusiasts across India.”

    With offices in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, One Source brings cross-industry experience across consumer goods, BFSI, tech, and startups — and is known for blending branding, content, digital, and corporate playbooks into one seamless pour.

     

  • Paisabazaar’s Credit Premier League (CPL) Blends AI spark a credit fitness movement

    Paisabazaar’s Credit Premier League (CPL) Blends AI spark a credit fitness movement

    MUMBAI: Paisabazaar launched the Credit Premier League (CPL), a nationwide contest designed to make credit score tracking engaging, competitive, and fun, and to reward the country’s most credit healthy individuals. As part of the contest, Paisabazaar has introduced a playful Selfie Feature on its App that’s catching the attention of its consumers across the country.

    The selfie feature allows users to take afun, animated selfie with their credit score displayed in a creative, Ghibli-style avatar. Paisabazaar has built the feature using the latest GPT-image-1 model for converting customer selfies into Ghibli-style images.

    Once a consumer checks their credit score on the Paisabazaar App, they can instantly transform theirselfie into this unique, shareable digital artwork. The fun, Ghibli-style selfie can then be easily shared on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, encouraging friends, family, and others to participate in the contest and check their own credit scores.

    A number of popular influencers, including Chetan Bhagat, RanveerAllahbadia and Rachana Ranade, have already participated in the contest, sharing their credit scores and their fun Ghibli-selfies on social media. Their participation has already generated widespread buzz, encouraging their followers to take part and check their own credit health.

    In addition to making credit score tracking more interactive, the Selfie Feature is designed to spark conversations around financial health, helping raise awareness about the importance of credit score in a fun way.

    Paisabazaar chief product officer Radhika Binani said, “At Paisabazaar, we have always focussed on Bharat’s financial wellness, by building awareness and engagement around key aspects like credit health. With CPL, we aim to build India’s first and largest credit score contest. A key aspect of the initiative is our use of technology, to encourage conversations around credit health.

    Paisabazaar CTO Mukesh Sharma added, “Our technology-driven initiatives are designed to make the experience of checking and understanding credit scores more accessible and engaging. The selfie feature adds a layer of fun and social sharing to an otherwise serious topic, bringing credit conversations into the mainstream.”

  • BITS Pilani ropes in edtech veteran Samit Dayal to lead digital push

    BITS Pilani ropes in edtech veteran Samit Dayal to lead digital push

    MUMBAI: BITS Pilani has appointed seasoned education and SaaS executive Samit Dayal as general manager – institutional engagement at BITS Pilani Digital, its ambitious foray into the online learning space. With a 25-year track record of launching and scaling multimillion-dollar education and tech ventures across South Asia and the Middle East, Dayal is expected to power BITS’ plans of reaching over 100,000 students in five years.

    In his new role, Dayal will drive partnerships with colleges, universities and edtech platforms, integrate online courses into existing curricula, and design school outreach programmes—all aimed at cementing BITS Pilani Digital’s presence in India’s rapidly evolving higher education market.

    Dayal most recently served as business head at SafeBus (MTAP Technologies), where he drove Rs 1 crore in revenue, led an international foray into Germany and the Gulf, and maintained a 100 per cent renewal rate across key school contracts.

    Earlier, as vice president – education at FranklinCovey South Asia, he built the India and SAARC operations from scratch, raking in over $400,000 in revenues and forging license deals across Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. His previous stints also include key leadership roles at HeadHonchos, Career Launcher, and i360, with a deep focus on franchise expansion, B2B/B2C education sales, and executive learning programmes.

    Known for his strategic acumen and people-first approach, Dayal blends mindfulness with aggressive go-to-market tactics. With the Indian edtech sector shifting from boom to consolidation, his entry signals BITS Pilani’s serious intent to dominate the digital education space—not just with legacy, but with lethal execution.