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Aman Kishore appointed head of marketing at Bits Pilani Digital

MUMBAI: Bits Pilani Digital, the online education arm of India’s esteemed Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, has announced the appointment of Aman Kishore as its new head of marketing. Kishore, a seasoned professional with over 24 years of experience in integrated marketing and communication, steps into the role with immediate effect, having joined in April 2025.

His extensive career spans a diverse portfolio of leading brands, including Samsung Mobiles, BMW, Mini Honda, Lufthansa, Nestle, Vodafone, Dabur, Walmart, Singapore Red Cross, and Mundi Pharma. At Bits Pilani Digital, Kishore will leverage his expertise in integrated campaigns, digital strategy, media integration, and performance marketing to expand the institution’s legacy to a wider audience.

Before this latest assignment, Kishore served as integrated campaign lead at Cheil India, where he spearheaded marketing efforts for Samsung Mobiles’ innovative A-series, M-series, and F-series, focusing on GenZ engagement through digital, influencer, and social content. He also led the Samsung CSR initiative, ‘Solve for Tomorrow.

His prior experience includes a notable four-year tenure as deputy general manager at The Times Of India, where he managed business development, revenue growth, and P&L for a unit responsible for marquee events such as the Literature Festival and Global Music Festival – Life in Colour. He also held significant roles at Serviceplan India, overseeing integrated media for BMW, MINI, and Lufthansa, and at Ogilvy & Mather, where he led business and strategy for clients like Honda Jazz and Vodafone.

Kishore’s appointment signals Bits Pilani Digital’s commitment to robust marketing and a content-driven approach as it expands its digital offerings in data science and artificial intelligence. He brings a proven track record of developing communication solutions that deliver business goals, fostering consumer insights, and mentoring teams, all while maintaining a keen focus on technology and digital innovation.

July 14, 2025
Old Hindi TV shows make a comeback to light up primetime again

MUMBAI: Ready for a trip down Tele‑vision Lane? Indian TV networks are reaching for the rewind button, dusting off iconic serials from the 90s and 2000s and re-hashing them with a modern twist. From crime procedurals to kitchen politics, old favourites are back to reclaim viewer loyalty, and early signs suggest it’s working. From Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and CID to Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, broadcasters are betting big on nostalgia to revive TRPs. These revamped shows began dropping between December 2024 and July 2025 CID 2 returned last December, Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 4 launched in June, and Kyunki 2 is all set to make its grand comeback come 29 July.

Why the flashback fix? For starters, the 25–45 age group grew up with these shows, making them more than just content, they’re memories. Channels are cashing in on this emotional bond to draw back viewers amid the OTT onslaught. Legacy titles offer not just a TRP rescue but a cost-efficient revival strategy complete with ready sets, familiar faces, and low marketing spends. As a source at Star India put it, it’s a smart way to “mitigate screen fragmentation.” Plus, the pandemic proved nostalgia’s power when Ramayan and Mahabharat re-aired, they smashed viewership ratings records, outpacing even fresh content.

Ormax Media head of business development for streaming, TV & brands Keerat Grewal said: “Over the past three to four years, shows with strong protagonists such as Anupamaa, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Ghum Hai Kisi Ke Pyaar Mein, and Kumkum Bhagya, have managed to sustain high viewership even across multiple leaps. This has been largely driven by the strong emotional equity their lead characters hold. The shows have skillfully introduced a new generation of characters who inherit familiar personality traits while addressing more contemporary issues, allowing the audience to feel a sense of continuity and evolution.

“The growing preference for shows with known characters and familiar storylines is not just a trend – it’s deeply rooted in how the human brain works. Neuroscience research shows that nostalgia and familiarity activate the brain’s reward centers, triggering comfort, trust, and emotional safety. Audiences are neurologically wired to return to content that evokes positive memories or past emotional resonance. That’s precisely what the return of a show like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi will tap into.”

Based on Ormax’s extensive tracking in the HGEC category, we know that the Kyunki brand still holds strong equity among viewers today. This is reflected in the exceptional performance of the show’s new promo on our proprietary awareness tracker Ormax Showbuzz. Within just two days of the promo’s release, the show has recorded unaided awareness levels typically seen only after three to four weeks of sustained marketing in this genre. The data underscores the power of nostalgia, combined with trusted storytelling and iconic characters, to drive early interest and engagement.

Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2000–2008) is set to return with Smriti Irani reprising her iconic role of Tulsi on Star Plus. CID (1998–2018) made its way back in December 2024 with most of the original cast. Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 4 debuted in June 2025, introducing a next-gen romance against a familiar emotional backdrop. Also making a play for comeback glory: Shaktimaan, slated for an audio reboot and a blockbuster film starring Allu Arjun; Aahat, the spooky staple now re-airing nightly; and evergreen titles like Khichdi, Office Office, Shrimaan Shrimati and Ramayan, all back on air or rumoured to be.

A JioStar spokesperson said, “Bringing back a show like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is not just hinged on nostalgia, it is a strategic storytelling move designed for today’s viewers. At Star Plus, we see legacy IPs as powerful cultural assets that can be reimagined to reflect today’s evolving values. By blending familiarity with freshness, we aim to bring together households, unite generations, spark new conversations and reaffirm the enduring relevance of stories rooted in family, identity, and resilience.”

A source at Balaji Telefilms revealed that the decision to bring back Kyunki wasn’t an easy one. The creator Ekta Kapoor initially resisted, reportedly saying, “You can’t compete with nostalgia. Why shake it up?”

One of the reasons she said yes, sources close to her say, is the creative challenge to make it connect with today’s evolved audience and make an impact by tackling issues which don’t find their way into the current roster of shows on air. (On a lighter note, it will give Balaji Telefilms an opportunity to take the show past a record-breaking 2,000 episodes; remember, it was taken abruptly off-air in its 1,833rd episode).

The clincher for the channel and OTT was not just ratings, it was legacy. Internal research commissioned had once shown that Kyunki helped amplify women’s voices in Indian homes. It tackled domestic abuse, ageism, and marital consent long before these were TV buzzwords.

The reboot, sources said, is less about chasing numbers and more about “reclaiming the power to reach millions and change mindsets.”

Sources familiar with the strategy at Star noted that Kyunki’s return serves both sentiment and business. “Broadcast reach is still far greater than OTT,” one executive explained. “Advertisers too have bought into the show because of its familiarity, going by the sponsors who have been tied up: Procter & Gamble (a classic soap advertiser), Colgate and Fortune Oil.”

They added that older viewers with their own families who first watched shows such as Kyunki as youngsters or young adults or are now settled, have disposable income, and more free time. “This group is now reachable again especially in slots like 10:30 pm,” said she.

With Kyunki, CID and Bade Achhe Lagte Hain leading the charge, the revival roster is far from done. Insiders suggest shows like Naagin, FIR, and Shrimaan Shrimati could be next in line. Meanwhile, connected TVs and Fast (free ad-supported streaming TV) channels are helping extend the reach of these classics into smaller towns and rural households, where smart TVs and budget broadband are becoming the norm.

Indian TV isn’t stuck in a time loop, it’s cleverly remixing the past. This wave of strategic nostalgia blends cultural memory with broadcast savvy, reminding us that some stories never really go out of style. In fact, they just get retold with better twists, lighting, cast and production values.

July 14, 2025
Den Networks Q1 profit jumps 41 per cent to Rs 508 million despite flat sales

MUMBAI: Den Networks may have seen revenues tread water this quarter, but profits took the express lane. Den Networks has posted a standalone profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 508.2 million for the quarter ended 30 June 2025, marking a 41 per cent year-on-year jump from Rs 359.3 million in the same period last year even as total revenue growth stayed modest at just 6 per cent.

According to the company’s unaudited financials approved by the board of directors on 14 July 2025, total income for the quarter stood at Rs 3,150.8 million, up from Rs 2,959.6 million in Q1 FY24. This includes revenue from operations at Rs 2,456.1 million and other income largely investment returns at Rs 694.8 million.

Cost-consciousness appears to have paid off. Total expenses declined 3.5 per cent sequentially to Rs 2,566.1 million. Notably, Den reduced its placement fees from Rs 484.1 million in Q4 FY25 to Rs 361.3 million this quarter. Content costs held steady at Rs 1,487.9 million.

While finance costs remained negligible at Rs 5.5 million, a sharper tax outgo up 113 per cent year-on-year to Rs 76.6 million chipped at the bottom line, although it didn’t stop PAT from soaring past Rs 500 million. Earnings per share (EPS) came in at Rs 1.07, up from Rs 0.75 in Q1 FY24.

Den’s consolidated results which include its 24 subsidiaries and five associate entities also painted a strong picture. Consolidated PAT stood at Rs 536.4 million, while total income was pegged at Rs 3,119.5 million. The group’s broadband business, however, saw a dip in revenue to Rs 104.6 million from Rs 121.2 million a year ago.

The cable distribution segment continues to be the mainstay, accounting for Rs 2,353.1 million of gross revenue this quarter. Interestingly, other income (largely interest and investment income) surpassed Rs 700 million on the consolidated books, nearly 23 per cent of total income.

Even as broadband and cable network operations posted minor operating losses, the group’s strong treasury returns and cost containment measures seem to have steadied the ship.

Den Networks, now a part of the Reliance Industries-backed media ecosystem, continues to operate with healthy cash reserves. As of June 30, 2025, total consolidated assets stood at Rs 42,246.3 million, up from Rs 40,084.5 million in Q1 FY24, signalling long-term stability despite a flattish top line.

For now, while India’s cable industry battles disruption from OTT and broadband wars, Den’s Q1 scorecard shows that fiscal discipline and high-yield investments can still keep the books in the black.

July 14, 2025
Romeo S3 lands on TV with a bang

MUMBAI: Get ready for some high-octane drama as All Time Movies, one of the leading Hindi movie channels in the HSM space, rolls out the world television premiere of Romeo S3 this Saturday, 19 July at 7 pm.

The action-romance thriller stars Thakur Anoop Singh, hot off his turn as the warrior king in Dharmarakshak Mahaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj – Chapter 1, and Palak Tiwari, who grabbed eyeballs in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. Together, the duo sizzles on screen with a punchy plot packed with power moves, simmering romance, and edge-of-seat action.

With a content vault boasting names like RRR, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Attack, Krack, Acharya, Arya 2, and Chatrapathi, All Time Movies continues to serve up crowd-pleasers for India’s entertainment-hungry heartland.

“Romeo S3 is an ideal movie for HSM TV audiences. It is the right mix of action, thriller and romance that families can get together and watch. With this Premiere, we are determined to augment our channel’s growth trajectory even further. We continue to grow the distribution network to give us width, along with providing the viewer the best possible viewership experience. We stay committed to the Hindi Movie viewer and our business partners,” says ‘All Time Movies’ M.D. & Promoter, Akshay Gada.

‘All Time Movies’ has delivered exponential growth over the last year and with the World Television Premiere of Romeo S3, we’re excited at the prospect of growing our viewership base significantly. We will leverage the property for our topline and to build on brand ‘A.T.M,” says C.O.O. Siddharth Chopra.

July 14, 2025
Blissclub launches AirMelt collection

MUMBAI: Blissclub has announced the launch of its latest collection – AirMelt. Engineered for comfort, flexibility, and all-day wear, the collection introduces a new fabric innovation that supports Indian women through every part of their day, from work to leisure.

Developed using a premium polyester-spandex blend, AirMelt is characterised by its featherlight feel and four-way stretch. The material also offers sweat-wicking capabilities, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor movement. Blissclub has adopted fibre-stage dyeing techniques for this collection, resulting in colours that are long-lasting and resistant to fading.

The inclusive range features silhouettes tailored for Indian body types, including flare pants with invisible pockets, cuffed joggers, shorts, crop tees, apple-hem tees, and zippered jackets. The designs aim to provide functional versatility while offering easy styling options for everyday wardrobes.

“AirMelt is the result of months of research, material testing and design iteration,” said Blissclub founder & CEO Minu Margeret. “Every detail was carefully considered to ensure the garments move with you and feel like second skin. We wanted to create pieces that allow women to go about their day without feeling restricted or uncomfortable. At Blissclub, we have always believed in designing for how Indian women actually live and move, and AirMelt is our response to that. It brings together thoughtful construction, everyday performance and unmatched softness in a way that feels seamless. Our goal is to create clothing that doesn’t just look good but feels effortless to wear and adapts to your day.”

July 14, 2025
Plush and Instamart join forces

MUMBAI: No more last-minute period hacks! Plush has partnered with Instamart to redefine period care with a breakthrough solution, Plush’s Seamless Period Panty. Combining innovation, convenience, and comfort, this game-changing product is transforming the disposable period panty space with a seamless, undie-like design – nothing like the bulky, diaper-like options out there. Now, with just a tap, Plush Period Panties arrive in 10 minutes via Instamart, making period care effortless, and eliminating the need for last-minute makeshift fixes that women have relied on for generations.

Their latest ad film takes a quirky, relatable spin on period prep struggles, capturing a classic jugaad moment where an older sister creatively layers multiple pads as a DIY leak-proofing hack, only to be stopped by her younger sister, who effortlessly orders a Plush Seamless Period Panty in a snap. This collaboration is a call to move beyond outdated solutions and embrace the future of period care.

“For years, period care has been about adjustments and compromises. At Plush, we set out to change that,” said Plush co-founder Prince Kapoor. “Our Seamless Period Panty redefines period care – blending innovation, style, and superior leak protection for ultimate comfort. Periods come with enough worries, but finding the right care shouldn’t be one of them. Teaming up with Instamart ensures just that.”

July 14, 2025
Mother Sparsh brings grandma’s secrets back in vogue with #RecreateRituals campaign

MUMBAI: Mother knows best, but grandma might have said it first. In a nostalgic-yet-modern digital push, Mother Sparsh has launched #RecreateRituals, a campaign that champions age-old Indian baby care practices, reimagined for today’s millennial mum.

At the heart of the campaign is Mother Sparsh’s Milky Soft Baby Care Range, infused with the age-old goodness of milk and coconut oil, ingredients Indian families have trusted for generations. Running in three interactive phases, the month-long digital blitz features polls, carousels, and influencer-led storytelling, all culminating in an emotional photo-sharing moment celebrating the timeless bond between grandparents and their tiny descendants.

Mother Sparsh CEO & co-founder Himanshi Gandhi spoke about the vision behind the campaign: “Through the #RecreateRituals campaign, we wish to bring back the time-tested solutions that our grandmothers used for little children. While many scoff at them as redundant, time stands testament to the fact that a wise grandmother has always solved all of the baby-related problems for a new mother. Thus, we are celebrating this bond with mothers and creating awareness by providing them a solution to take care of their baby’s sensitive skin.”

July 14, 2025
WPP Media and Indriya turn cinema ceilings into starry runways with ‘Aasmaniyat’

MUMBAI: Who said the sky’s the limit? WPP Media has gone above and beyond, quite literally, with a category-busting cinema ceiling activation to launch Indriya’s new diamond collection, Aasmaniyat, for Aditya Birla Jewellery.

In a dazzling first, theatre-goers in Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad were treated to an overhead spectacle as cinema ceilings shimmered with celestial visuals synced to Indriya’s brand film. The campaign, timed during high-traffic screenings of Sitare Zameen Pe, was conceptualised and executed by WPP Media’s OOH Solutions and Mindshare teams, transforming auditoriums into immersive jewel boxes.

By cleverly aligning the star-studded theme of the film with its own constellation-inspired collection, Indriya delivered an unforgettable “look up and wow” moment, a bold departure from standard screen-only storytelling.

Part of a 360-degree media blitz that spans cinema, OOH, TV, and print, the campaign is set to run until early August, aiming to drive top-of-mind recall and emotional resonance for the brand.

WPP Media South Asia, client solutions, Amin Lakhani said, “This campaign shows how media can evolve when creativity, insight, and technology unite. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in brand storytelling, not just reaching audiences but moving them. The ‘Aasmaniyat’ activation for Indriya reflects our focus on innovation that is bold, memorable, and drives results. It’s about creating moments that matter, where media becomes a stage for emotion and impact.”

“As media consumption patterns evolve, the role of OOH has expanded from visibility to immersive storytelling. This campaign is a defining example of how we can reimagine traditional spaces like cinema halls into high-impact brand experiences. Our focus is on innovation that captures attention, creates emotional resonance, and drives measurable value. The cinema activation is not just a media first, it’s a category-defining moment that showcases what’s possible when creativity meets contextual intelligence.” said WPP Media head of media solutions, Ajay Mehta.

Indriya CMO Shantiswarup Panda added, “For the first time in the industry, a brand has leveraged the immersive power of cinema to connect with a broader audience in a truly innovative way. Inspired by the vast, mysterious beauty of the cosmos, Aasmaniyat captures celestial elegance through exquisitely crafted diamond pieces that sparkle like constellations in the night sky. And what better stage for this brilliance than a darkened cinema hall, where Indriya’s diamonds shimmer and illuminate the ceiling with every frame.”

With Aasmaniyat, Indriya isn’t just launching jewellery, it’s elevating the very stage on which it sparkles. And thanks to WPP Media’s innovation, the sky is not the limit, it’s the canvas.

July 14, 2025
Opptra names Afshan Banu as CEO – fashion and beauty

MUMBAI: Opptra, the AI-powered omnichannel platform helping consumer brands scale into Asia, has appointed Afshan Banu as chief executive officer – fashion and beauty, bringing on board a heavyweight with over three decades of retail and digital expertise.

Banu, whose career spans iconic names like Nike, Victoria’s Secret, GAP, Triumph and Lazada, will lead Opptra’s expansion strategy for fashion and beauty verticals, turbocharging digital transformation and franchise-led growth for international labels eyeing Asian markets.

At Nike, she served as senior director for e-commerce across Southeast Asia and India, playing a crucial role in building Nike.com, the Nike App, SNKRS, and its marketplace muscle. Her previous stints at Lazada and Victoria’s Secret saw her drive brand development, strategic partnerships, and regional profitability in high-growth segments.

Opptra’s co-founder called her appointment “a shot of adrenaline” for its global ambitions. With deep expertise across brick-and-mortar, e-commerce and digital ecosystems, Banu’s mandate is clear — bring the world’s best brands to Asia, faster and smarter.

Commenting on her appointment at Opptra CEO – fashion and Beauty, Afshan Banu said, “I am excited to join Opptra at a time when the omnichannel experience is becoming more important. As global commerce continues to grow, Opptra’s digital-first technology and strong product solutions are well-positioned to provide the best experiences, both online and offline for consumers. We aim to help brands overcome infrastructure, regulatory, and cultural challenges by creating the world’s most innovative international expansion franchise model for brands.”

As beauty and fashion brands battle for scale in a fragmented retail landscape, Opptra’s AI-led omnichannel playbook, now helmed by a leader with proven mettle — could be the edge they need.

July 14, 2025
Hit List to make its world TV debut on Zee Action

MUMBAI: What happens when an ordinary man is pushed to the edge? Zee Action is set to unravel that question with the World Television Premiere of Hit List, a gritty emotional thriller packed with revenge, redemption, and raw suspense, airing Tuesday, 15 July at 7:30 PM.

Directed by Sooryakathir and K. Karthikeyan, Hit List blends heart-stopping action with gut-punch emotion. R. Sarathkumar delivers his signature gravitas as a righteous cop, while Vijay Kanishka’s debut marks the arrival of a fiery new talent and possibly a future fan favourite. What unfolds is a labyrinth of lies where justice begins to blur into revenge.

This is no cookie-cutter cop flick. Hit List asks the hard-hitting question: When the innocent turn violent, can the line between hero and villain survive the fallout? Whether you’re in it for the thrills, chills, or emotional spills, Hit List promises a gripping watch from start to finish.

Don’t miss the action-packed premiere of Hit List, 15th July, 7:30 PM, only on Zee Action.

July 14, 2025