MUMBAI: Dharma Cornerstone Agency is turning the page. The talent venture created by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Bunty Sajdeh’s Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment is being reshaped as both partners head in different directions, according to media reports.

What began as a bid to bring top-tier celebrity representation under one roof is now winding down its joint structure. With each company pursuing its own strategy in a fast-evolving talent industry, the partnership has reached its final chapter.

Reports suggest that Dharma is buying out Cornerstone’s 45 percent stake in the LLP. Once the transition is complete, Dharma is expected to hold full ownership and steer the operation entirely on its own.

The move comes at a time when celebrity and creator management is splintering into more specialised, independent models. Agencies are sharpening their focus as the entertainment economy grows more crowded and competitive.

DCA has represented a starry roster featuring Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday, Janhvi Kapoor, Tripti Dimri, Aditya Roy Kapur, Neha Kakkar and Jubin Nautiyal, along with rising names including Ibrahim Ali Khan and Shanaya Kapoor. As the curtain falls on the joint venture, both Dharma and Cornerstone are expected to manage their talent stables separately.

The industry will watch closely as the two now script their next acts.

MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms has renamed its astrology application in a swift defensive move after copycat platforms began cluttering the digital spirituality space. AstroVani by Balaji is now Balaji Astro Guide—a change designed to stamp out confusion and anchor the brand more firmly in users’ minds.

The Mumbai-based television and film producer announced the rebrand on Tuesday, saying the new name took effect immediately on Google Play Store, with an iOS launch to follow shortly. The decision, according to the company, came after “overwhelming response” to the platform attracted a swarm of third-party apps with similar-sounding names.

“The transition to Balaji Astro Guide is a step in reinforcing our brand’s strategic positioning within the spirituality-tech ecosystem,” said Balaji Telefilms  group chief executive and group chief financial officer Sanjay Dwivedi. The new name, he added, “strengthens brand recall, eliminates ambiguity, and positions the platform as a direct, authoritative guide for astrology, numerology, and spiritual insights under the trusted Balaji umbrella.”

The move highlights the challenges facing established brands as they venture into India’s booming digital spirituality market, where low barriers to entry have created a proliferation of lookalike services. For Balaji, the rebrand is a bet that clarity trumps creativity—and that users seeking cosmic guidance prefer knowing exactly whose stars they’re reading.

MUMBAI: Disney+ and Nippon TV are teaming up for a genre-first from Japan—an unscripted travel reality series titled “Traveling with Snow Man,” set to premiere on 27 July on Nippon TV, with an exclusive uncut global version dropping on Disney+ right after.

The 10-episode series (each running 22 minutes) stars Snow Man, the chart-topping nine-member J-pop boy band, as they embark on a joyride from Okinawa to Hokkaido, blending heart, humour, and hometown charm. But this isn’t your typical idol show. Joining them is Tabi, an AI-style robot and the unofficial 10th member, capturing all the candid chaos as it unfolds.

This marks a major milestone for Disney+, as Traveling with Snow Man becomes the first-ever Japanese unscripted travel series to launch on the platform.

Kicking off with a laid-back beach barbecue in Okinawa, episode one sets the tone—shop-hopping, joyrides, grilled surprises and plenty of banter. Along the route north, the group gets up close with Japan’s rich cultural diversity, sampling local delicacies, bonding with residents, and exploring iconic locations.

Under the banner theme “One for Snow Man, Snow Man for One,” each member reflects on their individual growth and how it fuels the collective journey, resulting in a travelogue full of introspection, brotherhood, and playful misadventures.

A newly released key visual shows Snow Man lounging by the Okinawan seaside breezy, beachy, and brimming with off-stage charm. Fans can expect a rare peek behind the idol curtain, where spontaneity trumps script, and raw moments steal the show.

With global audiences now in tow thanks to the Disney+ release, “Traveling with Snow Man” is poised to become Japan’s next bingeable cultural export—one barbecue, one tear, and one Tabi-captured moment at a time.

“We are deeply honored to announce that the uncut version ‘Traveling with Snow Man’, with additional scenes, will be streamed globally on Disney+, allowing audiences around the world to enjoy it immediately after broadcasting in Japan,” said Travelling with Snow Man producer and chairman Takashi Kato. “What stood out to me in our conversations with the group is their deep passion for their work and the strong bond they share. This series captures all of that and more. As we travel across Japan, we capture the members’ genuine personalities and heartfelt dedication, all while savoring local delicacies along the way. And please look forward to the cheeky navigation by the AI-style robot, ‘Tabi’.”