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Tag: Vijay Deverakonda

  • TV9 Summit 2025 puts India’s global rise in the spotlight

    TV9 Summit 2025 puts India’s global rise in the spotlight

    MUMBAI: TV9 Network hosted the third edition of its flagship ‘What India Thinks Today Summit’ on 28 and 29 March 2025 at the iconic Bharat Mandapam. With the theme ‘India in the New World Order’, the two-day summit carved out a dynamic global platform for thought leaders, ministers, cultural icons, and business visionaries to chart India’s path in an evolving geopolitical landscape.

    Prime minister Narendra Modi headlined the event with a powerful keynote address, calling the summit a vital forum shaping the nation’s future. “The ideas exchanged here will define India’s future,” he stated, adding, “What TV9 thinks today, other channels will follow.”

    The event began with an impactful session featuring Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who made a headline-grabbing announcement, “A big decision on toll within a week, public concerns will be addressed soon.”

    Actors Vijay Deverakonda and Yami Gautam brought cinematic flair to the stage, offering personal insights into fame and success. Meanwhile, actors Amit Sadh and Jim Sarbh stirred excitement with a preview of their upcoming thriller, Pune Highway.

    A moving moment came when 28 winners of News9’s Indian Tigers and Tigresses India’s largest youth football talent hunt were felicitated and posed for a group photo with the prime minister himself.

    TV9 Network MD & CEO of Barun Das, reflected on the global vision,“We at TV9 Network have initiated our engagement last year in the News9 Global Summit at Stuttgart, Germany, which will be bigger and better in October, later this year. We also have two more geographies on our radar, the UAE and the USA for News9 Global Summit. These are initiatives that precede TV9 Network’s Global expansion under the guidance of our chairman, Rameshwar Rao.”

    The second day adopted a dual-track format, diving into national issues and the global economic landscape. Union ministers including Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw, G. Kishan Reddy, and Chirag Paswan shared insights on governance and policy. chief ministers Rekha Gupta, Bhagwant Mann, Mohan Yadav, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Pushkar Singh Dhami addressed challenges such as secularism, welfare policies, and the Uniform Civil Code.

    The summit also brought out a spectrum of political perspectives from figures like Smriti Irani, Randeep Surjewala, Imran Pratapgarhi, and RSS’s Sunil Ambekar. Healthcare was in sharp focus, with Navneet Saluja of Haleon (Sensodyne) dissecting India’s approach to public health, and Vedanta’s Anil Agarwal delivering a keynote on global business readiness.

    On the international front, former UNGA President Abdulla Shahid spoke about the Global south’s rise, while cultural voice Pandit Dhirendra Shastri addressed the event as a ‘Hindu Crusader’.

    Economic deliberations gained momentum with a virtual address from chief economic advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran, followed by in-depth panels on AI, e-mobility, infrastructure, sustainability, and education. Eminent voices like K.T. Mahhe (Sreenidhi University), Abhishek Singh (IndiaAI), Hisashi Takeuchi (Maruti Suzuki), Rajesh Nambiar (NASSCOM), and Nilesh Shah (Kotak AMC) enriched the conversation.

    Backed by marquee sponsors including Sensodyne, Sreenidhi University, HP Lubricants, Tata Motors, and Government partners from Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, the summit was a showcase of collaboration and vision.

    With sessions now available on News9’s Youtube channel and News9 Plus, this landmark summit continues to ripple across conversations, shaping how India is perceived—and how it positions itself—in the global order.

  • Vijay Deverakonda relaunches RWDY – Street Indian Culture!

    Vijay Deverakonda relaunches RWDY – Street Indian Culture!

    Mumbai: Acclaimed superstar and entrepreneur Vijay Deverakonda makes a dynamic foray into the fashion industry with the relaunch of his street wear brand, RWDY – Street Indian Culture. This ground-breaking initiative introduces a fresh philosophy and vision for the fashion line, symbolising a bold step toward celebrating India’s rich heritage and culture.

    At the core of RWDY lies a compelling mantra – ‘Reclaiming Your Indian Superiority,’ echoing a commitment to revive and honour India’s cultural richness. The brand sets itself apart through a dedication to quality, innovative design, and the establishment of a movement that reclaims cultural supremacy within the realm of contemporary fashion.

    RWDY’s commitment to creating experiences that redefine and differentiate is evident in their products, which seamlessly blend the utility and convenience of modern design with the celebration of India’s cultural roots. The brand’s ethos hopes to spark a movement, transforming fashion into a connection with heritage, history, and people, inspiring a global audience to embrace the richness of Indian culture.

    A key aspect of RWDY’s vision is the creation of clothing meant to endure, to be passed down through generations of friends and family—a testament to the brand’s commitment to producing pieces that instil pride. Vijay Deverakonda’s decision to bring Western fashion to the Indian audience at an affordable price reflects a shift in his own tastes and preferences over the years.

    Speaking about the brand and his inspiration behind it, Vijay Deverakonda remarked, “India 300 years ago, was the centre of the world’s attention. Every powerful country and empire in the world wanted a piece of us and exploited our resources, skill, culture and wealth. Today, There is a massive power shift happening, politically, economically, culturally. Everybody can see it is India’s time at the world’s centre stage. Again. RWDY Indian street culture is our contribution to this movement. A time and a generation that is confident and proud of their roots, heritage and culture. India were the leaders of textile industry and our workmanship was and is art. And we are set to takeover as leaders on every front. RWDY aims to incorporate our rich culture into contemporary street clothing. Our goal is to contribute to Reclaiming Indian supremacy in fashion. Each piece of clothing you hold in your hands carries the legacy of our great nation’s rich textile craft and culture. Our vision is simple— “We start from the streets of India. We aim to take over the streets of the world.”

    RWDY – Street Indian Culture is set to redefine the fashion landscape, offering a unique blend of contemporary design and traditional Indian values. As the brand launches today, Vijay Deverakonda embarks on an exciting journey to reclaim Indian superiority in the world of fashion.

  • WhatsApp Channels: A brand’s new frontier for enhanced engagement!

    WhatsApp Channels: A brand’s new frontier for enhanced engagement!

    Mumbai: Earlier this month, Meta chief Mark Zukerberg has announced the launch of WhatsApp Channels to over 150 countries including India. With channels, WhatsApp’s goal is to build the most private broadcast service available, according to the company statement. Channels are separate from chats, and who you choose to follow is not visible to other followers.

    A WhatsApp Channel allows companies to send messages to a large number of customers at once. This broadcast feature makes the communication easier and saves resources, as you only need to send one message to reach a lot of people at once.

    Companies can send, for example, important information, updates, product launches, special deals, and company news on the channels. This direct style of communication can improve customer loyalty and brand awareness.

    Several movie stars including Katrina Kaif, Diljit Dosanjh, Akshay Kumar, and Vijay Deverakonda, have already unveiled their WhatsApp Channels. Also, the Indian Cricket Team has also launched its WhatsApp Channel, aligning with the excitement building up around the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

    With all this, we will see what the industry experts have to say regarding Channels, on whether this platform will be a boon for brands and content creators or is it just another gimmick? Let’s find out!

    Edited excerpts

    Chtrbox VP Karan Pherwani

    The introduction of WhatsApp Channels represents an exciting development for both brands and creators within the digital landscape. This feature promises to be a game-changer in terms of community building, offering a unique platform for engagement. While platforms like Discord and Instagram have made strides in this area, WhatsApp’s extensive reach holds the potential to resonate even more profoundly with India’s tier 2 and Tier 3 audiences.

    WhatsApp Channels will serve as open channels for brands and creators to foster meaningful interactions with their followers and consumers. It provides a seamless avenue for keeping the audience informed and engaged. The ability to communicate directly through WhatsApp, a widely used messaging app in India, will undoubtedly enhance the accessibility and intimacy of these connections. This innovation is poised to redefine how brands and creators connect with their target demographics, offering a fresh, dynamic channel for engagement and communication.

    FoxyMoron (Zoo Media) business director Shubit Rakshit

    The platform is a game-changer for content creators and marketers alike, providing an intimate space to connect with audiences. With its enhanced features and commitment to privacy, WhatsApp Channels opens new doors for personalized engagement and authentic communication. It would also be interesting to see how businesses leverage this platform, especially in a diverse market like India, by delivering content in regional languages and vernacular.

    With WhatsApp Channels, the industry at large gains a versatile tool to amplify brand visibility, engagement, and ultimately, ROI.

    TheSmallBigIdea CEO & co-founder Harikrishnan Pillai

    I have reservations against any feature that mimics another platform, especially when the genesis of the existence of the app is far away from that.

    WhatsApp is primarily used for direct and personal conversations with people you know, and you don’t see the need for it to become a platform for one-to-many communication. The core of the platform is interactivity and conversations, which the feature gives a complete miss in the current avatar.

    An extension to the absence of interactivity is the absence of a comments section on WhatsApp, which is a feature that drives engagement on other social platforms. While WhatsApp can argue it as a feature or a limitation, in a one-to-many scenario, there has to be a door for a 2-way conversation.

    WhatsApp is an already overwhelming space. Work conversation, personal conversation groups, status and now this.

    SoCheers group head – outreach Kunal Khandelwal

    WhatsApp’s transition into this territory feels more natural and promising, considering its wide user base. The vision is to offer brands a distinct avenue for connecting with their audience in a more personalized and exclusive manner. However, it would require brands and creators to establish their subscriber base from scratch unlike Instagram’s ‘Broadcast Channels’, where brands and creators can get their existing follower base.

    Thus, to make the most of WhatsApp Channels, brands can captivate their audience by offering special promotions, exclusive insights into upcoming products, and showcasing variations within their product line. This strategy cultivates a sense of exclusivity, ensuring that the audience remains engaged and eagerly anticipates what the brand has to offer. Particularly in industries like entertainment, where frequent updates and releases are the norm, WhatsApp channels prove highly effective. Moreover, brands in this sector can share relatable content, engage directly with fans, and maintain a consistent stream of updates.

  • Myntra’s latest campaign features leading fashion icons

    Myntra’s latest campaign features leading fashion icons

    Mumbai: Fashion e-commerce platform Myntra has launched its latest brand campaign featuring leading fashion icons and the company’s new brand ambassadors Hrithik Roshan, Vijay Deverakonda, and Dulquer Salmaan. Existing celebrity ambassadors Kiara Advani and Samantha Akkineni are also part of the campaign.

    “With the combined star power of the most sought-after celebrities from different regions, who are loved and admired for their acting prowess and fashion quotient, Myntra is set to unleash its biggest-ever line-up of star-studded brand commercials. These are aimed at targeting consumers across the nation and giving Myntra the opportunity to engage with the fans of these celebrities,” read Myntra’s official statement.  

    Speaking on the appointment of the new brand ambassadors and the launch of the brand campaign, Myntra CMO, Harish Narayanan, said, “We are elated to welcome all the superstars to the Myntra family. These top fashion icons who are also acclaimed fashion connoisseurs will be a part of Myntra’s biggest star-studded campaign ever. The campaign will strongly reinforce Myntra’s position as ‘India’s Fashion Expert’ with differentiated fashion offerings and unparalleled shopping experience pivoted on technology. This campaign will cut across demographics and build a deeper relationship with our customers across the country.”

  • Ananya Pandey & Vijay Deverakonda ‘swipe it up’ on Moj

    Ananya Pandey & Vijay Deverakonda ‘swipe it up’ on Moj

    MUMBAI: Short video app Moj has kicked off a new brand campaign #SwipeUpWithMoj to strengthen its brand recall as the ultimate entertainment destination. As part of the campaign, Moj has teamed up with Bollywood diva Ananya Pandey and Tollywood heartthrob Vijay Deverakonda as brand ambassadors; they will be seen on the app’s brand videos and also as creators on Moj.

    The commercials launched on 3 April in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam, keeping in view Moj’s diverse audience across the country. Ananya Pandey will drive relevance and boost brand affinity in the priority Hindi-speaking markets while Vijay Deverakonda will help double down on the brand presence in south India.

    The campaign is centered around a deeper understanding of the users’ need for fun and engaging content that captivates their attention and add entertainment to their everyday lives, breaking all their monotony. In the commercial, both Ananya and Vijay will be seen swiping through their phones amidst their parents and elderly relatives bickering at home. Bored with the constant bickering, they are swiping up on Moj, imagining their parents and relatives dancing to the cheeky music in the videos, leading to them sitting with their moms and watching Moj videos together.

    Moj chief commercial officer Ajit Varghese said, “#SwipeUpwithMoj campaign has been designed to establish Moj as the ‘cool place to hangout’, making it synonymous with short videos, providing a ‘world of fun' at our fingertips. We are confident that this quirky new campaign will help us build deeper and newer connections with our audiences.”

    Ananya Pandey said she’s thrilled to be a part of Moj as a creator and is looking forward to making making cool content. “With the quick ‘Swipe Up’ option on my phone, I can now get into a world of endless entertainment possibilities from anywhere, thanks to Moj.” 

    The creative mandate for the campaign was run by AllThingsSmall. The videos are produced by Bang Bang and both versions of the film were directed by Ryan Mendonca.

  • Actor Vijay Deverakonda’s fashion brand ‘Rowdy Wear’, to be launched on Myntra

    Actor Vijay Deverakonda’s fashion brand ‘Rowdy Wear’, to be launched on Myntra

    MUMBAI: Rowdy Wear, the first ever celebrity fashion brand to originate from the Telugu states and owned by actor Vijay Deverakonda, announces its launch on Myntra today. Rowdy Wear was born in 2018 and personifies the rebel attitude and style of the actor and is an expression of a person’s rebellious self. The brand’s merchandise, comprising apparel for men, women and children, including accessories and footwear, will be available on Myntra from February 12, 2020.

    True to its theme, Rowdy Wear is a streetwear brand that blends fashion, comfort, and confidence to uphold the spirit of achievement in an individual. The brand offers contemporary street fashion at affordable prices, mainly targeting students and the younger generation. The Rowdy Wear collection has been designed with extreme care to ensure the durability and sustainability of each product. The brand’s streetwear range includes shirts, tees, sweatshirts, kurtas, jackets, hoodies, joggers, sneakers, caps, belts and more, at a pocket-friendly price range of Rupees 790 – 1990.

    The brand has witnessed a strong uptake with Vijay’s massive fan-following, especially in south-India and has so far been accessible largely through the Rowdy Wear App. The partnership with Myntra is set to enhance its reach nationally, especially in tier 2 and 3 cities and towns across the country, where the company has a strong presence.

    The association was announced today at a Sundowner Party in Hyderabad, hosted by Vijay for his Rowdy fans and has been his chosen method to often engage and surprise fans. Present at the event were, Amar Nagaram, Head, Myntra Jabong and Vijay himself.

    Speaking on the association, actor Vijay Deverakonda, said, “Rowdy Wear is clearly an extension of my personality, it brings with it the attitude to express who you really are and questions conventional thoughts and processes with comfort, in street style. I believe this attitude is now entrenched in a majority of the youth in this nation and would like to aid them with the right fashion sense that further enhances their spirit. In order to achieve this, we have partnered with Myntra that will enable us reach far and wide. 

    Amar Nagaram, Head, Myntra Jabong, said, “Films have come a long way in guiding our sense of fashion and continues to influence our style and attitude. Celebrities play an important role as fashion idols, both on and off screens and their massive fan-following often helps shape the market. Streetwear as a concept is becoming extremely popular and we are thrilled to on-board Rowdy Wear and deliver its attitude and merchandise to Vijay Deverakonda’s fans across the country.”