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  • Manforce Condoms unveils virtual muse Myra as brand star

    Manforce Condoms unveils virtual muse Myra as brand star

    MUMBAI: Manforce Condoms has swiped right on artificial intelligence, unveiling its new brand ambassador, Myra Kapoor, a computer-generated beauty designed to stir conversations about desire, intimacy and everything in between.

    India’s leading sexual wellness brand under Mankind Pharma has taken a bold leap into the future, introducing Myra through a sultry new television commercial. Far from a stiff avatar, the AI star radiates emotions like passion, love and temptation, aiming to make chats about fantasies feel as natural as pillow talk.

    Myra’s arrival is no gimmick. Born from insights gathered at a leading management institute, she represents a paradigm shift in how brands communicate. Grapes Worldwide, the creative brains behind her, ensured Myra’s charm feels relatable and human, giving her the ability to headline campaigns that ebb and flow with seasons – starting with the monsoon.

    To debut her, Manforce staged a digital face-off called ‘India’s most desirable’ with Filtercopy. The twist? Myra competed against real people and clinched victory through public votes, proof that audiences are ready to embrace AI allure.

    Mankind Pharma, vice chairman and managing director, Rajeev Juneja called the move a “transformative journey” in brand storytelling, promising limitless creative possibilities. Grapes Worldwide, co-founder and global CEO, Shradha Agarwal added that Myra pushes AI beyond automation to deliver meaningful engagement.

    With Myra, Manforce Condoms isn’t just selling protection. It’s selling imagination, sparking fantasies with a pixel-perfect partner who might just be too good to be true.

  • Zaggle swipes big with Mastercard in co-branded card power play

    Zaggle swipes big with Mastercard in co-branded card power play

    MUMBAI: When Zaggle and Mastercard join forces, you know the swipe game just levelled up. In a move set to reshape India’s prepaid card landscape, Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services Limited has inked a five-year deal with Mastercard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd., paving the way for a new wave of co-branded domestic prepaid cards.

    The agreement, effective from 22 September 2025 and running until 30 September 2030, will see Mastercard incentivise Zaggle to launch and promote these cards on its network. The deal is positioned as a customer business agreement, but in the wider payments ecosystem, it’s a strong signal that prepaid solutions are no longer niche, they’re going mainstream.

    Zaggle managing director Avinash and CEO Ramesh Godkhindi confirmed the collaboration in a regulatory filing, noting that the tie-up is fully aligned with SEBI’s disclosure requirements. Importantly, there’s no related party angle here, the deal is clean, international in origin, but domestic in focus.

    For Zaggle, this partnership means more than just plastic in wallets, it’s about scaling digital payments for an India that is rapidly going cashless. With Mastercard’s global heft backing its distribution, the co-branded cards are expected to target a wide consumer base, from urban professionals to emerging Tier 2 plus spenders looking for secure, flexible, and reward-heavy payment tools.

    The timing couldn’t be sharper. With India’s digital transaction volumes already scaling new highs and festive spending season underway, the Zaggle-Mastercard alliance is poised to capture both consumer trust and transaction value.

    By the numbers:

    ●    Agreement duration: 22 September 2025 – 30 September 2030

    ●    Nature: Domestic prepaid card co-branded with Zaggle on Mastercard’s network

    ●    Structure: Internationally awarded, domestically executed

    ●    Consideration: Mastercard incentivising Zaggle for launch and promotion

    As fintech partnerships continue to blur the lines between consumer convenience and financial innovation, Zaggle’s latest move signals that the prepaid card is no longer the poor cousin of credit, it’s a rising star. With Mastercard in its corner, Zaggle isn’t just playing the payments game; it’s aiming to rewrite the rulebook.

  • ‘Road Trippin With Rocky’ S14: Rocky Singh explores Gujarat with HistoryTV18

    ‘Road Trippin With Rocky’ S14: Rocky Singh explores Gujarat with HistoryTV18

    MUMBAI: History TV18’s hit travel-food social series ‘Road trippin with Rocky’ is back with Season 14, and this time all roads lead to Gujarat. As the state gears up for Navratri with colour, music, and celebration, Rocky Singh sets off on a five-day journey to explore its irresistible flavours and vibrant culture.

    Starting 24 September, Rocky’s road trip will take him through Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Surat: each city serving up a feast of stories and tastes. From fluffy khaman-dhokla and crispy theplas to piping-hot sev usal and the indulgent Surati ghari, the season promises a plateful of Gujarat’s legendary vegetarian delights. Expect impromptu stops at bustling bazaars, late-night food stalls, and street corners where Rocky chats with locals over khakhra, locho, ponk vada, and chai.

    Rocky’s trademark spontaneity, humour, and curiosity ensure that each meal goes beyond food, bringing alive the culture, warmth, and festive energy of Gujarat during its most celebrated season.

    Over the past 13 seasons, ‘Road Trippin With Rocky’ has built a loyal following by blending irresistible food, local culture, and Rocky’s unique storytelling into a format that feels as real as an unscripted road trip. From Tamil Nadu’s coastal trails to Coorg’s misty hills, Rocky has taken viewers across India, amassing over 2 billion impressions and nearly 540 million video views.

    Fans can catch every moment of the Gujarat adventure on Rocky’s and History TV18’s social media handles across Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Expect behind-the-scenes glimpses, quick bites, and conversations that make food the perfect bridge between people and places.

    With Gujarat’s festive season as the backdrop, Rocky’s latest journey promises to prove once again that the best meals and the best memories are the ones you don’t over-plan.

  • India’s internet lobby gets new chiefs to shepherd digital policy

    India’s internet lobby gets new chiefs to shepherd digital policy

    MUMBAI: India’s Internet and Mobile Association (IAMAI) has shuffled the deck at the top of its influential public policy committee, installing fresh leadership to guide the country’s booming digital sector through an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

    Amazon Web Services India & South Asia head of digital and AI policy  Saurabh Singh, has been elected chairperson of the committee that shapes industry positions on everything from data governance to consumer protection. He replaces Vineeta Dixit of Spotify, who had steered the group through a period of rapid regulatory change.

    Joining Singh as co-chairs are ride-hailing firm Rapido general counsel and head of corporate affairs & public policy Manasvi Mann, and Swedish caller-identification app Truecaller head of public affairs Seema Jindal. They take over from Senthil Kumar of agritech startup Ninjacart and Richa Mukherjee of fintech firm PayU.

    The reshuffle comes as India’s digital economy hurtles towards the government’s ambitious target of reaching $1trillion in value. The IAMAI committee serves as the industry’s primary voice in policy discussions with New Delhi, weighing in on thorny issues like data localisation rules, platform liability and digital competition.

    “Our focus will be on addressing critical digital policy matters that are relevant to our members whilst the ultimate goal would be to contribute to the national vision of building a $1 trillion digital economy,” Singh said following his appointment.

    The new leadership takes charge at a pivotal moment. India’s tech sector faces mounting scrutiny over market dominance, data privacy and content moderation—issues that will require deft navigation of both domestic political pressures and global regulatory trends.

    Jindal emphasised the need for industry-government collaboration to build “a safe and inclusive digital ecosystem” as India positions itself as a global digital leader. Her appointment brings telecoms expertise to a committee increasingly grappling with infrastructure and connectivity challenges.

    The leadership change reflects IAMAI’s evolution from a relatively niche trade body to a powerful lobbying force representing hundreds of companies across India’s sprawling digital economy. As regulatory battles intensify, the new team will need to balance member interests whilst maintaining credibility with policymakers in the world’s most populous democracy.

  • Sony Pictures Networks India brings in BCG to slash costs

    Sony Pictures Networks India brings in BCG to slash costs

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has hired Boston Consulting Group to conduct a comprehensive audit of its operations, according to media reports. The review, ordered by new chief executive Gaurav Banerjee (GB to his associates), aims to cut costs and boost efficiency across the broadcaster’s television and digital arms.

    GB, who took the helm in 2024 after the departure of long-serving chief N.P. Singh, is driving the strategic overhaul as India’s broadcast sector grapples with spiralling content costs, fierce competition from digital rivals, regulatory interference and volatile advertising revenues.

    The audit will scrutinise both SPNI’s 28 television channels and SonyLiv, its streaming platform, hunting for redundancies and wasteful spending on programming, marketing and content rights. BCG has been tasked with creating “a roadmap for sharper efficiency”, a senior executive told media outlets.

    The consultancy’s mandate spans linear television and digital operations, with particular focus on aligning content investments with revenue reality. The exercise seeks to eliminate structural inefficiencies and streamline overlapping processes without disrupting core operations.

    Industry analysts say GB’s decision to deploy BCG signals a new era of financial discipline. The timing is critical. SPNI reported revenues of Rs 651.1bn and net profit of Rs 84bn in the financial year ending March 2024. Subscription income reached Rs 320.6bn whilst advertising contributed Rs 282.5bn. Yet content costs are climbing faster than revenue growth, forcing a fundamental reassessment of the business model.

    “The era of unchecked spending is over,” said an industry veteran. “This audit is about building a leaner, sharper SPNI that can weather current pressures and thrive in the next phase of media growth.”

    The BCG review carries symbolic weight beyond operational fixes. For employees, partners and investors, it signals that GB intends to apply rigorous financial scrutiny to SPNI’s expansion plans. For rivals, it demonstrates that whilst SPNI will compete aggressively, it will avoid ruinous spending wars.

  • Warner Bros unleashes brain-busting bonanza at Mipcom

    Warner Bros unleashes brain-busting bonanza at Mipcom

    LOS ANGELES: Warner Bros International Television Production is gambling big on grey matter and guilty pleasures as it unveils its format arsenal for Mipcom 2025. The American studio’s international arm has assembled a motley crew of offerings—from cerebral challenges that torture contestants’ neurons to reality stars trading Instagram likes for insect bites.

    Leading the charge is The Final Circle, a French import from Satisfaction that subjects players to mental gymnastics across logic, memory, language and maths. The format tortures every synapse as contestants battle to prove their intellectual mettle under crushing pressure.

    At the opposite end of the sophistication spectrum sits Reality Kings on Safari, courtesy of WBITVP Netherlands. The concept dumps pampered male reality television veterans into the wilderness, forcing them to swap luxury lifestyles for basic survival skills—a premise guaranteed to deliver schadenfreude by the bucketload.

    Denmark’s contribution, World’s Wildest Race, dispatches celebrity duos on the ultimate road trip, blending high-octane competition with friendship drama. The format promises viewers both petrol-fueled thrills and interpersonal combustion.

    The unscripted stable includes Custom Cars, a high-octane dive into Britain’s modified motor scene for Quest, and two historical offerings from Wall to Wall: The Murder Club resurrects forgotten cold cases for BBC Two, whilst The Unheard Tapes uses authentic voices from pivotal historical moments for BBC One.

    Most intriguing is Finland’s Special Rescue, where adults with learning disabilities join volunteer fire units—proving heroism comes in unexpected packages.

    On the scripted front, Belgian drama Oh, Otto! leads the charge with its unflinching examination of love and loss. The award-winner joins psychological courtroom anthology The Twelve, now in its third Australian season, plus family dysfunction saga The Divine Monster and relationship drama Double Life.

    Global vice-president of format and finished sales André Renaud insists audiences crave “high-concept, high-stakes” entertainment. His mixed bag suggests Warner Bros believes viewers’ appetites are as diverse as they are voracious—spanning intellectual torture, celebrity suffering and historical resurrection.

    The strategy reflects television’s post-streaming reality: with infinite choice, formats must either assault the brain or assault the senses. Warner Bros appears confident it can do both.

  • Times of India hires WPP talent chief for recruitment overhaul

    Times of India hires WPP talent chief for recruitment overhaul

    MUMBAI: Bennett Coleman & Co, publisher of the Times of India, has hired Roshin Mascarenhas as its new head of talent acquisition, luring  her from WPP Media where she led recruitment across South Asia.

    The appointment signals the Indian media conglomerate’s push to revamp its hiring strategy as traditional publishers grapple with digital disruption and fierce competition for top talent. Mascarenhas brings 15 years of recruitment experience, including stints at Viacom18, Disney, and the Aditya Birla Group.

    Her move to the Times of India building in Mumbai marks something of a homecoming. Early in her career as a search consultant, she worked on critical roles for the newspaper group. Her husband also spent his formative professional years at the company, making this appointment as much personal as professional.

    At WPP Media, Mascarenhas managed geographically dispersed recruitment teams and standardised hiring practices across the advertising giant’s Indian operations. She oversaw campus programmes, implemented data-driven recruitment metrics, and championed internal mobility initiatives.

    Her LinkedIn announcement is peppered with rocket ship emojis and effusive praise for her new employer’s “heritage and integrity.” She describes herself as a “talent magnet” and “mindfulness champion” who believes technology cannot replace the “human touch” in recruitment.

    The hire comes as India’s media landscape undergoes rapid transformation. Traditional publishers like Bennett Coleman face pressure to attract digital-native talent while competing with technology firms and streaming platforms for the best candidates.

    Mascarenhas’s track record includes notable achievements such as recruiting 120 people in two months for UTV Stars’ Bollywood channel launch in 2011 and implementing hiring automation systems. Her appointment suggests Bennett Coleman is serious about professionalising its talent acquisition function.

    Whether her “positive vibes” approach and emphasis on creating “meaningful careers” can solve the structural challenges facing India’s traditional media remains to be seen. But for a company seeking to blend legacy with innovation, hiring someone who describes every recruitment as “a story” seems oddly appropriate.

  • NDTV pivots to live entertainment with star-studded concert series

    NDTV pivots to live entertainment with star-studded concert series

    NEW DELHI: NDTV, India’s three-decade-old news broadcaster, is striking out into uncharted territory with the launch of NDTV Good Times, a live entertainment venture that promises to bring marquee musical acts to iconic venues across the country.

    The move marks a bold departure for the Delhi-based media house, which has built its reputation on hard news and current affairs. Now it is betting that India’s youthful demographics and growing disposable income will fuel demand for premium live experiences.

    The inaugural lineup reads like a who’s who of Indian music. AR Rahman will perform at Varanasi’s sacred ghats along the Ganges, while Sonu Nigam plans a tribute to legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi at Kashmir’s Dal Lake. The roster also includes composer trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and popular singers Jubin Nautiyal and Neha Kakkar.

    “NDTV has always stood at the intersection of storytelling and society,” said chief executive and editor-in-chief Rahul Kanwal. The company aims to “curate iconic performances that will not just entertain but also inspire, connect, and create lasting memories.”

    The venture taps into a global trend where live entertainment has become a cultural force, particularly among younger audiences who prize authentic, shared experiences over passive consumption. India, with one of the world’s youngest populations, appears ripe for such offerings.

    NDTV’s strategy leverages its existing broadcast and digital infrastructure to amplify these events beyond their physical venues. The company has partnered with ticketing platform  District to handle bookings and logistics.

    Rahul Shaw, the newly minted chief experiences officer, positions the initiative as “reimagining the heartbeat” of Indian culture by combining top-tier talent with extraordinary settings.

    The move comes as traditional media companies worldwide grapple with changing consumption patterns and seek new revenue streams. Whether NDTV’s gamble on live entertainment pays off will depend on its ability to translate its storytelling credibility into successful event curation—and whether Indian audiences are ready to pay premium prices for the privilege.

  • Tech Mahindra Chess League teams up with Google Cloud for Season 3

    Tech Mahindra Chess League teams up with Google Cloud for Season 3

    MUMBAI: The Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL), in partnership with FIDE, has joined hands with Google Cloud to serve up real-time player performance analysis for Season 3, turning the ancient game into a modern spectator sport.

    Scheduled for 13–24 December in India, the world’s first franchise-based chess league will now fuse its heritage of strategy with cutting-edge technology. Using Google Cloud’s advanced infrastructure and Tech Mahindra’s AI and ML dashboards, fans can follow real-time insights into every move while broadcasters deliver smarter, more engaging coverage.

    “Each season, we strive to elevate the experience for fans and players by leveraging advanced digital technologies,” said Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, chairperson, Peeyush Dubey. “Our partnership with Google Cloud ensures that Season 3 sets new standards for innovation in global sports.”

    Alongside the live action, fans and partners will also be able to join creative tournaments and interactive fan zones, adding collaboration and innovation to the mix. Multilingual commentary and expanded global broadcasts aim to make this season the most accessible and inclusive yet.

    The league, unique for its mixed-team format where male and female players compete side by side, has already redefined how professional chess is played and viewed. With AI, data analytics and smart broadcasting now in play, Season 3 promises to be not just a contest of kings and queens, but of codes and clouds too.

    Because in this game, it is not only about who makes the winning move, but how millions get to watch it happen in real time.

  • Third Wave Coffee and Smoor stir up sweet brews with Diwali hampers

    Third Wave Coffee and Smoor stir up sweet brews with Diwali hampers

    MUMBAI: This Diwali, it’s sweets meets sips. Third Wave Coffee and luxury chocolate brand Smoor have teamed up to brew a festive pairing of rich coffees, artisanal chocolates and keepsakes in three limited-edition hampers.

    Crafted to capture the spirit of togetherness, the collaboration offers a blend of two rituals at the heart of Indian celebrations: the sweetness of mithai and the warmth of coffee. Priced from Rs 1,299 onwards, the hampers will be available across Third Wave Coffee and Smoor outlets and on Swiggy and Zomato from 25 September.

    The collection features: classic hamper with Vienna roast easy coffee bags, a mug, Smoor’s choco mithai and almond snaps, a diya and greeting card; Indulgence hamper layering Vienna and monsoon malabar roasts with choco mithai, pistachio kunafa bites, a diya, handcrafted mug and tote bag; Luxe hamper starring Ratnagiri specialty single-origin festive blend, a French press, choco mithai, kunafa, artisanal mug, diya and bespoke greeting card.

    “Coffee is more than a beverage, it is a comforting ritual that connects people,” said Third Wave Coffee, CEO, Rajat Luthra. “Pairing it with Smoor’s indulgent chocolates makes these hampers more than gifts, they’re modern experiences.”

    Smoor, CEO, Vimal Sharma added, “Our craft in chocolate paired with their mastery of coffee brings distinct experiences in perfect balance, creating hampers that are thoughtful and truly special.”

    With signature brews, handcrafted treats and festive touches like diyas and cards, the hampers aim to elevate gifting from the conventional to the memorable. Because this Diwali, celebration isn’t just about lights and laddoos: it is about savouring every sip and every bite, brewed and sweetened to perfection.