Tag: Mumbai

  • PVR Inox marks Independence Day with 18 new screens in Mumbai and Bengaluru

    PVR Inox marks Independence Day with 18 new screens in Mumbai and Bengaluru

    MUMBAI: PVR Inox has turned Independence Day into a box office bonanza with the launch of 18 state-of-the-art screens across Mumbai and Bengaluru. The country’s largest cinema exhibitor unveiled a 10-screen megaplex at Sky City Mall in Borivali East, Mumbai, and an eight-screen flagship at Mahindra Millennium Mall in Bengaluru.

    Timed to coincide with the releases of Coolie and War 2, the two properties showcase the exhibitor’s boldest push yet into experience-driven entertainment. The Borivali megaplex spans multiple levels and features premium formats including Insignia, Imax with Laser and 4DX, with Instagram-ready foyers and lounge spaces pitched squarely at younger audiences.

    Bengaluru’s new multiplex promises even more experimentation: India’s first dine-in auditorium restaurant, an upgraded “Kiddles 2.0” cinema for children, Club Sapphire recliner halls, and VR/AR gaming zones. AI-enabled crowd-flow systems add a tech edge to the glitzy design.

    INOX Bengaluru

    PVR Inox managing director Ajay Bijli said the new cinemas celebrate “the freedom to experience stories in spaces that inspire, energise, and connect.”

    Executive director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli called the simultaneous 18-screen launch the firm’s “boldest step yet” in reimagining cinema as a multi-sensory destination.

    With 1,763 screens across 355 properties in 111 cities, PVR Inox continues to dominate Indian film exhibition. By positioning its latest properties as lifestyle hubs as much as theatres, it is betting that movie-going can be turned into a festival every weekend.

  • Zepto zips into 10-minute medicine service

    Zepto zips into 10-minute medicine service

    MUMBAI: Zepto is betting that Indians want their paracetamol as fast as their groceries. On 7 August Aadit Palicha, chief executive of the quick-commerce firm, announced the launch of Zepto Pharmacy on LinkedIn. 
    The service promises to deliver common medicines—from headache tablets like Saridon to antibiotics—within 10 minutes.

    But the rollout is cautious. The pharmacy service is live only in select areas of Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi NCR and Hyderabad. Palicha said his team has spent 12 months perfecting “the customer experience, supply chain, and compliance at a small scale” before this limited launch.

    “Our objective is to keep operational standards extremely high and not scale too rapidly given the complexity of this category,” he explained. The measured approach reflects the regulatory hurdles and safety concerns inherent in medicine delivery—a stark contrast to Zepto’s typically aggressive expansion in groceries.

    If executed well, Palicha believes the service could “seriously improve the lives of millions of customers across the country and help make important medicines easier to access when we need them the most.”

    The move marks Zepto’s latest attempt to diversify beyond groceries, where it competes fiercely with rivals like Blinkit and Instamart. Whether Indians will embrace ten-minute medicine delivery with the same enthusiasm they have shown for rapid grocery runs remains to be seen.

  • Alap Ghosh named first India CEO of Assembly

    Alap Ghosh named first India CEO of Assembly

    MUMBAI:  Global omnichannel agency Assembly has appointed Alap Ghosh as its first-ever chief executive officer for India, effective 1 August. Based in Mumbai, Ghosh will report to matt adams, global chief operating officer, and lead the integration of Assembly’s media, tech, creative and commerce arms across India.

    A digital veteran with over 25 years under his belt, Ghosh joins from Google India where he helmed data and technology partnerships, driving innovation for enterprise clients. His earlier stints include leadership roles at Jellyfish and founding a data consultancy, equipping him with deep experience across adtech, martech, programmatic platforms and commercial strategy.

    “India is a critical growth market for Assembly and many of our global clients,” said Assembly global CEO Rick Acampora. “Alap brings the right mix of vision, scale and execution to help us build something truly distinct in the region.”

    Ghosh will be tasked with unifying Assembly’s footprint across Mumbai and Bangalore into a single offering that delivers connected omnichannel experiences. His remit includes accelerating growth, building talent depth and pushing innovation across data, media and creative.

    “India is moving at breakneck speed—creatively, digitally, and culturally,” said Ghosh. “By bringing our teams under one vision and one voice, we can build a next-gen agency model designed for where this market is headed.”

  • Tesla drives into India: Mumbai showroom opens with high-priced model Y

    Tesla drives into India: Mumbai showroom opens with high-priced model Y

    MUMBAI: Mumbai played host to a pivotal moment in India’s electric vehicle narrative on Tuesday as Tesla officially inaugurated its first showroom, a sleek 4,000 sq ft experience centre at the upscale Maker Maxity Mall in Bandra Kurla complex (BKC).1 The much-anticipated debut marks the EV behemoth’s initial physical foray into one of the globe’s burgeoning EV markets, kicking off its Indian journey with the Model Y SUV.

    The Model Y, imported as completely built units (CBUs) from Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory, comes with a rather hefty price tag for Indian consumers: the rear-wheel drive variant is listed at Rs 60 lakh, while the long-range version will set buyers back Rs 68 lakh.2 These figures significantly eclipse Tesla’s base pricing in established markets such as the US ($44,900), China (263,500 yuan), and Germany (45,970 euros), largely due to India’s substantial import duties. Customs documentation revealed each Model Y arrived at Mumbai port declared at Rs 27.7 lakh ($31,988), attracting over Rs 21 lakh in import duties, aligning with India’s 70 per cent tariff on fully-built vehicles priced under $40,000.Devendra Phadnavis

    Beyond the showroom, which is strategically located near Apple’s flagship store, Tesla has imported nearly $1 million worth of Supercharger infrastructure and accessories from the US and China, earmarked for installation around Mumbai to support early adopters. The company is also establishing a dedicated service centre in Kurla West for after-sales support.

    The long-term play for India appears clear. Tesla already boasts a registered office in Bengaluru and an engineering hub in Pune. Maharashtra deputy chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, underscored this broader vision, hailing Tesla’s arrival as more than a mere commercial venture.

    “This is not just the inauguration of an experience centre but a statement that Tesla has arrived, a statement that it has arrived in the right city and state, that is Mumbai, Maharashtra. Mumbai stands for innovation and sustainability. Tesla is not just a car and car company but stands for innovation and sustainability,” Fadnavis declared.

    Tesla had teased its entry on its India-specific X handle with a coming coon” post, hinting at a July 2025 debut.

  • 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.

  • Home is where the heart loan is says LIC HFL in new brand campaign

    Home is where the heart loan is says LIC HFL in new brand campaign

    MUMBAI: Walls you can scribble on. A nail you can hammer in. A door that bears your name. LIC Housing Finance Limited (LIC HFL) is tugging at heartstrings with its new brand campaign, launched on its 36th Foundation Day. Titled “Apna Ghar… toh apna hi hota hai”, the campaign is a love letter to the emotional highs of homeownership, one mortgage at a time.

    The film unfolds like a photo album of real India: a birthday party in a Mumbai chawl, wall scribbles in a Chandigarh flat, DIY home décor in the South, and joyful wall painting in a Bengali household. No dramatic voiceovers, no dream homes from glossy catalogues just simple stories that show how home is more than square footage. It’s where memories are made, walls become storyboards, and every corner says “you”.

    Backed by four decades of housing India’s dreams, LIC HFL’s latest initiative celebrates that universal desi sentiment: “Kuch bhi ho, apna ghar toh apna hota hai.” LIC Housing Finance Limited, managing director & CEO Tribhuwan Adhikari calls it a reaffirmation of the trust LIC HFL has built with families across income groups and geographies over the past 36 years.

    To dial up the emotion, LIC HFL has also launched a Digital Name Plate Generator, a playful interactive feature where users can visualise their name on a front door, delivering a personalised dose of that ‘first-home’ thrill.

    The campaign not only reinforces LIC HFL’s legacy in home financing, but also shows the brand’s evolving digital-first ethos, appealing to next-gen homeowners who want both emotional and financial security under one roof.

    From loan documents to love notes on the fridge, LIC HFL’s message is simple: the joy of a home is worth every EMI.
     

  • Game of pawns just got powered up as chess makes its esports move

    Game of pawns just got powered up as chess makes its esports move

     MUMBAI: The queens are charged, the knights are digital, and India’s chessboard is now esports-ready. In a game-changing move for Indian chess, Nodwin Gaming has announced a strategic partnership with Chess.com and Chessbase India, marking a historic convergence of esports, content, and competitive chess. Together, the trio will co-create original IPs, power pro-level broadcasts, and elevate India’s growing chess ecosystem into a global force.

    From school tournaments to creator streams, chess has undergone a stunning revival. Once the preserve of silent halls and grandmasters, it’s now the fourth most-watched sport in India trailing only cricket, kabaddi, and BGMI. This new-age boom has been fuelled by the digital-first youth, and the stats are as sharp as a Sicilian Defence, 7.6 billion games played globally on Chess.com in 2024, 200 million plus registered users, including over 9 million monthly active players from India, 550,000 plus new Indian sign-ups every month, 925 million organic views, with viewership up 640 per cent year-on-year

    The tipping point? The Gukesh vs Ding Liren World Championship final, streamed in India exclusively by this trio, which racked up 24 million views and a peak concurrency of 200,000.

    “Chess has now become more than a game, it’s content, culture, and community,” said Nodwin Gaming co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee. “With this partnership, we’re building a future-ready ecosystem to take Indian chess from heritage to hype.”

    And it’s not just the numbers. The chess revolution is reshaping Indian cities and screens alike, Cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai rank among the world’s top chess-viewing zones. 80.9 per cent of Indian chess viewership is on smartphones. Core audience? Ages 18–34, a Gen Z and millennial-driven wave of tactical fandom

    Chessbase India CEO Sagar Shah sees this as more than a business arrangement, “This is a vision to take Indian chess from grassroots to global. With NODWIN and Chess.com, we now have the firepower to truly scale it.”

    Chess.com India, country director Avadh Shah added, “The excitement around chess is at an all-time high, and this collaboration ensures India plays a defining role in shaping its future.”

    That future arrives fast. At the Esports World Cup 2025, chess will debut with a 1.5 million dollars prize pool. Representing India will be S8ul’s Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram the country’s first-ever esports team to compete in global chess.

    From mobile-first blitz battles to stadium-sized finals, chess is no longer just about black-and-white strategy, it’s a full-spectrum spectacle. And with Nodwin Gaming, Chess.com, and ChessBase India now playing as one, India might just checkmate the world.

  • Pooja Sondhi gets HR handle at Adomantra to drive growth playbook

    Pooja Sondhi gets HR handle at Adomantra to drive growth playbook

    MUMBAI: She’s not just hiring, she’s here to rewire. In a strategic move to anchor its growth plans with a strong people backbone, Adomantra Digital India Pvt. Ltd has roped in Pooja Sondhi as its new chief human resources officer (CHRO). The appointment signals the company’s intent to double down on its talent-first philosophy while expanding operations across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

    Armed with over 20 years of HR experience, Pooja is no stranger to driving scale. A certified POSH trainer and two-time HR award winner “HR Professional of the Year” (HR+L&D Innovation Summit 2024) and one of the “50 HR Innovators” (World HRD Congress 2023) she’s known for her sharp people insights, strategic acumen, and change-making credentials. Her resume spans stints at Dainik Jagran, JCDecaux, Vcommission Media, and Aargus Global Logistics, giving her a ringside view into both legacy and new-age organisations.

    At Adomantra, she’ll steer HR across its growing business hubs, with a focus on building a high-performance, inclusive, and agile culture. As part of the company’s FY 2026 roadmap, Adomantra aims to onboard new hires and expand its business footprint placing Sondhi at the centre of this scale-up engine.

    “We are thrilled to have Pooja on board,” said Adomantra Digital India and Adotrip Group founder & CEO Vikas Katoch. “Her people-first mindset and strategic sharpness are exactly what we need as we grow across verticals. She brings both depth and direction to our HR vision.”

    Sondhi, for her part, is already rolling up her sleeves. “This is an exciting moment in Adomantra’s journey,” she said. “Together, we’ll build a workplace where growth and empathy go hand in hand because a great business starts with great people.”

    With her at the helm, Adomantra seems ready to not just chase targets, but to truly humanise hypergrowth, one hire, one culture shift, one strategy at a time.

  • Bipin R. Pandit pens his passion in new biography, ‘Impassioned’

    Bipin R. Pandit pens his passion in new biography, ‘Impassioned’

    MUMBAI: Goafest 2025 witnessed more than just gold metals — it saw the unveiling of ‘Bipin R. Pandit – Impassioned’, a vibrant biography celebrating the Advertising Club’s spirited COO & founder of the soulful live music IP, Khumaar. The book was launched by Havas India group CEO SEA & North Asia, and Ad Club president  Rana Barua  during the 58th Abby Awards in front of an industry-packed house.

    The biography captures Pandit’s 28-year rollercoaster with the Ad Club, where he’s been the behind-the-scenes heartbeat of events like the Abbys, Effies and Emvies — awards that have since become institutionally iconic. From his early days at Baroda Rayon and Castrol India to being the anchor of over 1,000 stage shows, Impassioned weaves the personal with the professional — with equal notes of nostalgia, humour and humility.

    The book features:
    * Reflections from all 13 Ad Club presidents Pandit has worked with
    * Insights from 30 managing committee members, with a back-and-forth of perspectives
    * A tribute to Khumaar, now in its 20th year
    * A peek into the Pandits’ love story — a romance that began in school and blossomed into 40 years of marriage
    * And plenty of anecdotes that spotlight Bipin’s love for cricket, music and people

    With a foreword by Padma Shri Piyush Pandey and a special note by Padma Shri Prasoon Joshi, Impassioned isn’t just a biography — it’s a masterclass in loyalty, legacy and leading with heart.

    “I just wrote a LinkedIn blog after last year’s Abbys. Rana called, said this should be a book — and the rest is literally history,” said Pandit, thanking Gour Gupta and the team at Tribes for their support, and co-author-curator Gokul Krishnamoorthy for shaping the narrative.

    “Bipin has been the pulse of The Ad Club,” said Rana Barua. “His journey is a reminder that true leadership doesn’t always wear the loudest hat — sometimes, it sings from backstage.”

    Ad Club past president Ramesh Narayan added, “Bipin has always had that reassuring smile and an enviable ability to juggle committees, concerts, and cricket scores with ease.”

    The biography is priced at Rs 750 and available on www.bipinpandit.com. Ten per cent of the proceeds will go to Light of Life Foundation, supporting marginalised communities — yet another testament to Pandit’s impassioned legacy, both on and off stage.

    Credits
    Publisher & co-author: Bipin R. Pandit
    Curator & co-author: Gokul Krishnamoorthy
    Cover design: Vikram Gaikwad
    Book design: Mediaedge
    Cover photo: Himanshu Mestry
    Supported by: Tribes

  • Cool runnings Glucon-D style keeps summer play in full gola swing

    Cool runnings Glucon-D style keeps summer play in full gola swing

    MUMBAI: This summer, as thermometers soared and playgrounds sizzled, Glucon-D didn’t just bring the chill, it brought it on a stick. In a refreshing twist on summer relief, Zydus Wellness’ iconic glucose-based drink launched Energy Ka Gola, an on-ground activation that reached over 10,000 children across Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Lucknow. The mission? To serve up joy and energy in equal measure, one colourful, icy gola at a time.

    But these weren’t your average roadside treats. Infused with Glucon-D’s glucose and Vitamin C, each gola delivered a burst of quick-absorbing energy and immunity support especially vital for active children facing heat-induced glucose depletion.

    Over 700 kilograms of these fortified golas were distributed across 100 plus playgrounds and sports venues, served in familiar flavours like Mango, Orange and Nimbu Pani. The initiative transformed overheated, abandoned fields into buzzing playgrounds again restoring not just hydration, but hope, spirit, and stamina.

    “Energy Ka Gola is nostalgia with a purpose,” said Zydus Wellness CEO Tarun Arora. “We’re blending science with sentiment to help children stay active and energised, even in sweltering conditions. Because children shouldn’t have to choose between chasing dreams and dodging the heat.”

    To drive the message home, Glucon-D also released a heartwarming film that journeys from deserted playgrounds to scenes of joyful, gola-powered revival. Adding more muscle to the movement were local influencers, coaches, and community leaders who helped spread awareness around fatigue, immunity, and the role of glucose replenishment during peak summer months.

    With scorching days becoming the new normal, Energy Ka Gola isn’t just a campaign, it’s a delicious defence mechanism. And Glucon-D’s latest move proves yet again that it doesn’t just fuel bodies, it fuels childhood.