Tag: Andheri

  • Aashirvaad Atta’s Ganesh idols on wheat grains set record this Ganpati

    Aashirvaad Atta’s Ganesh idols on wheat grains set record this Ganpati

    MUMBAI: Holy grain! In a record-breaking festive twist, ITC’s Aashirvaad Atta has proven that devotion need not be larger than life. Sometimes, it fits on a single grain of wheat.

    During the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at the iconic ‘Andheri cha raja’ pandal in Mumbai, Aashirvaad pulled off a feat that earned it a place in both the India book of records and the Asia book of records for the ‘biggest distribution of Ganesha idols on wheat grains.’

    Yes, you read that right. Lord Ganesha, meticulously engraved onto actual grains of wheat, was at the centre of this unique campaign. Over 2,000 micro-idols were distributed to devotees, each grain carefully enclosed in an acrylic display box with a built-in magnifying lens. Think of it as a divine collectible with a sprinkle of science and a whole lot of soul.

    The initiative was part of Aashirvaad’s festive campaign: “Gehu gehu hai vishesh, har gehu mein hai Ganesh,” spotlighting the purity and cultural significance of wheat in Indian homes. Through this punny yet poignant message, the brand wove a connection between the grain that sustains millions and the god who removes obstacles.

    Commenting on the milestone, ITC, chief executive, staples & adjacencies, foods division, Anuj Rustagi said, “Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival where devotion meets grandeur, and we wanted to offer something truly unique. By engraving Lord Ganesha on a single grain, we showcased how tradition and innovation can come together to celebrate purity in a memorable way.”

    From its trusted ‘chakki MP sehori aata’ to ‘organic aata,’ Aashirvaad continues to win hearts across India by delivering quality flour that meets local tastes and now, sets records too.

    Looks like when it comes to devotion and innovation, Aashirvaad truly doesn’t grain and bear it, it goes the extra (milli)metre.
     

  • Badshah’s Badboy Pizza  slips into India’s QSR scene with a bold, desi twist

    Badshah’s Badboy Pizza slips into India’s QSR scene with a bold, desi twist

    MUMBAI:  Critically acclaimed rapper, singer-songwriter and serial entrepreneur Badshah has fired up the ovens and stormed into India’s booming quick service restaurant (QSR) sector with Badboy Pizza—a mass-premium pizza chain that promises bold flavours, slick branding, and a desi-meets-global attitude.

    The artist, whose real name is Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, has teamed up with Ghost Kitchens India, one of the country’s largest cloud kitchen players led by serial founder Karan Tanna, to build what the duo claim will be “the most exciting QSR launch of the decade.”

    Ahead of the opening, the internet was set ablaze with a cheeky viral campaign featuring Badshah being slapped—by a pizza. The stunt, designed to juice the brand’s tagline ‘pizza that slaps,’ racked up over eight million views across platforms and turbocharged buzz around the brand’s launch.

    Badboy Pizza is now live with a flagship boutique outlet in Andheri, Mumbai, and is eyeing a footprint of 50 locations across India’s top five metros in the next three years. Built as a hybrid format of dine-in and delivery kitchens, the brand is chasing an ambitious Rs150 crore annual recurring revenue (ARR) target. The average bill: Rs 400 per person.

    At the heart of the venture is a 50-item cosmopolitan menu that fuses global favourites with desi swagger—from Truffle Cacio-e-Pepe and Korean Spice to Tandoori Tikka and Chicken Keemalal. There’s even a cinematic special called the Pushpa Pizza, spicy enough to match its namesake’s fire.

    Says Badshah: “Badboy Pizza is an extension of my personality — rooted, bold and real and this launch is special since I’ve always dreamt of having my own pizza chain! Drawing upon diverse culinary experiences from my travels over the years, my vision was to forge a brand that embodies international quality while resonating deeply with homegrown appeal. Partnering with Karan Tanna and Ghost Kitchens ensures we’re building not just a brand, but a truly world class and accessible culinary experience.”

    The crust, however, is the true hero. Made with Italian flour and cold fermented for 48 hours, it promises that elusive combo of crispy outside and fluffy inside—a far cry from the usual QSR fare.

    And the brand doesn’t stop at pizza. The menu includes garlic bread with butter chicken, spaghetti in bread bowls, flamboyant desserts like Fried Oreos with sea salt dark chocolate, and madcap sundaes in flavours such as Banaras Paan and Guava Masala.

    The brand identity? Loud, rebellious and proudly Indie-an. Badboy Pizza’s packaging mimics smuggled contraband—zesty lime and purple boxes emblazoned with bold typography and the playful wink of Jugnu, the mischievous mascot who glows when things get bold. The boxes double up as collectible street-art souvenirs—because why should a pizza box be boring?

    For Ghost Kitchens, the tie-up is a strategic masterstroke. Already home to brands like Starboy Pizza and Speak Burgers by Vicky Ratnani, the cloud-first company processes over 1.2 lakh orders monthly and is scaling fast after a $5 million Series A raise in 2024.

    Tanna said, “Badboy Pizza is poised to be the most exciting QSR launch of the decade. The brand reimagines what scalable QSRs of the future will look like. Badshah’s ability to shape trends and influence youth culture gives this brand an unmatched edge. Together, we’re building the future of QSR experiences in India.”

    India’s QSR market is surging—from $85.19 billion in 2025 to a projected $139.75 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.41 per cent, according to a press release issued by the company. The pizza segment alone is forecast to more than double to $11.8 billion by 2033.

    With the hype machine firing on all cylinders, a menu that dares to be different, and cultural cues baked into every bite, Badboy Pizza isn’t just selling food. It’s building a movement.

    And yes—this pizza really slaps.

  • ‘Water’ to be the opening film at 4th Jagran Film Festival

    ‘Water’ to be the opening film at 4th Jagran Film Festival

    The 4th edition of the Jagran Film Festival, Mumbai 2013 will begin with the film Water and will be screened on 24 September at Fun Republic in Andheri, Mumbai. Water is a 120 minute feature film born out of a unique Israeli-Palestinian cinematic cooperation. Produced by the Film and Television department of the Tel Aviv University in association with Tu Vas Voir, the project Water is made in HD, colour. Yael Perlov had initiated this project and is also the artistic director of Water. Its original version is in Arabic, Hebrew, and English.

     

    Taking complete artistic freedom, in 2012, a small group of Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers directed a feature film that explored a strong unifying subject – Water. Besides being a highly poetic and pastoral subject, Water is also a very political and violent subject with respect to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Water is about two conflicting populations, which couldn’t overcome the prejudice and political intimidations, but ultimately finds a platform for a unique collaboration, in the form of this feature film. This is one of the reasons why Water is so special.

     

    Cinema always has the ability to penetrate forbidden zones and Water exemplifies that. It has made all of us realise that we all yearn for a solution to this long-going on conflict. Several Directors have interpreted this subject in their own creative way, which together has given shape to Water.

     

    The film, a unique piece of art has been screened at various international film festivals, Venice International Film Festival, Jerusalem Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, Mostra International de Cine de Sa? Paulo, Brazil, Stockholm International Film Festival, Swedenand many others. This is the Asian Premiere of the film.

  • 15th Mumbai Festival to host ‘Music Composers Lab’

    15th Mumbai Festival to host ‘Music Composers Lab’

    MUMBAI:The 15th Mumbai Film Festival is doing all that it can to woo its audiences. The festival will be a host to the launch of India’s first ‘music composer’s lab’ and will be held at the Yash Raj Film Studios located in Andheri, Mumbai.

    The lab will be presented by UK’s Bohemia Junction and Abbey Road Studios in association with PRS for music, UK and will take place from 21- 23 October.

    The lab will offer a unique opportunity to emerging Indian composers to interact with successful professionals in the field of music and to get a better understanding of what lies at the heart of a music score in the arena of moving image.

    Over two days, six composers will attend the Mumbai ‘composers lab’ to meet and interact with professional composers and a team of music and film industry specialists, from the UK and India, who will share their knowledge and expertise with them. The composers will also be advised about many aspects of music and the industry. The lab is an initiative to provide a hub for like-minded emerging film composers to network with each other, as well as with industry professionals, to learn new skills in the realms of film scoring.

    The two-day film scoring sessions will be followed with an interview and audience Q & A with award-winning British composer Ilan Eshkeri and a with the lab’s creative advisors on 23 October at 1pm at metro cinema.

    Special guest Ilan Eshkeri, best-known for his film scores of 47 Ronin, Coriolanus, Stardust, The Young Victoria and Kick-Ass, as well as his collaborations with Coldplay, Annie Lennox and Take That, will lead the creative team of composers that will be announced shortly.

    Applications for young composers to take part in the workshop open today (17 September) and will close on Monday, 7 October.

  • Madhuri Dixit set to become a producer

    Madhuri Dixit set to become a producer

    MUMBAI: After enthralling audience for years with her acting skills, Madhuri Dixit Nene is planning her entry into film production.

    The actress, along with her husband, has reportedly bought real estate space in Western suburbs at Maurya Landmark in Andheri.

    Dixit, who made her Bollywood comeback with Aaja Nachle, is in the process of giving direction to the new venture which is still in its infancy.

    The couple has started meeting film directors for their first project that is expected to go on the floors next year.

  • No takers for Lucy Liu’s film Meena in India

    No takers for Lucy Liu’s film Meena in India

    MUMBAI: Charlie’s Angels star Lucy Liu’s ready to release film Meena is not finding any buyers in the country. Distributors here feel that a serious film like this doesn’t have a market in the country.

    The 30-minute narrative-style feature tracks the true story of a real-life sex worker Meena Hasina, as shown in the book, Half The Sky by Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.

    In actuality, Hasina was abducted from her village in Bihar at the age of 10 and brought to Mumbai where she grew up in a brothel. After escaping from the brothel, she made it her life’s mission to help as many of her sex-worker colleagues to escape from a life of prostitution as possible.

    The film has been shot mainly in the narrow alleys of Versova Village and at a bungalow in Andheri.

    Back in 2010, Liu visited India discreetly to shoot her directorial debut film Meena that is also one of six features that make up the US tele-series, Half the Sky.