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Tag: Vijay Varma

  • Metro Brands reports steady performance in Q3 FY 2025

    Metro Brands reports steady performance in Q3 FY 2025

    MUMBAI:  Footwear retailer Metro Brands  announced its standalone and consolidated financial results for the quarter ending 31 December 2024 which showcased robust growth, largely driven by the festive and wedding seasons.

    The company recorded a standalone revenue of Rs 688 crore, reflecting a year-on-year sales growth of 10 per cent. The EBITDA margin stood at 32.6 per cent  with a profit after tax (PAT) margin of 13.7  per cent. Notably, the PAT figure includes a one-time tax charge of Rs 25 crore resulting from the reconciliation and reassessment of tax liabilities, mainly related to the Fila business.

    During the quarter, Metro Brands expanded its retail presence with the launch of its first Foot Locker store and a new kiosk for New Era, catering to an increasingly diverse customer base. The company also enlisted celebrities Triptii Dimri and Vijay Varma for its Metro Shoes line, alongside Shanaya Kapoor and Vedang Raina for Mochi, which bolstered brand visibility and contributed to growth.

    Metro Brands liquidated its old Fila inventory during this period and is set to release a second drop of India-manufactured merchandise by mid-February 2025.

    Over the nine months ended  31 December 2024, the company opened 61 new stores while closing four bringing total net new openings below the initial guidance of 100 for the year. However, the company remains committed to its overall target of establishing 225 new stores by FY 2026.

    Said CEO Nissan Joseph: “The third quarter of FY 2025 reflects steady progress for Metro Brands as we build on the momentum of the festive season. With an 18 per cent increase in PBT and a 13 per cent  rise in EBITDA, our focus on operational rigor is yielding results. The successful launch of the Foot Locker store and New Era kiosk, along with our celebrity partnerships, have enhanced our brand visibility and customer engagement. We are optimistic about our initiatives and remain dedicated to delivering value for our customers and stakeholders as we approach the final quarter of the year.”

  • Oaksmith launches Oaksmith Style Studio with Vijay Varma

    Oaksmith launches Oaksmith Style Studio with Vijay Varma

    Mumbai: Oaksmith packaged drinking water has launched the Oaksmith Style Studio platform in collaboration with Vijay Varma, reflecting his unique sense of style. Conceptualised by BBH, the platform aims to elevate the style quotient for Indian men.

    The platform aligns with Oaksmith’s values of quality and sophistication, integrating seamlessly into men’s fashion. The campaign began with a teaser featuring Vijay Varma, the brand’s first ambassador, on his journey to create the perfect Oaksmith Style Studio.

    Vijay Varma showcases four distinct, trendsetting looks set to an original soundtrack. The collaboration between BBH, Oaksmith, and Vijay Varma focused on creating a platform that addresses men’s styling needs, from content curation to studio design, providing an immersive experience.

    As the face of Oaksmith Style Studio, Vijay Varma brings his distinct styling sensibility, highlighting Oaksmith’s commitment to elevating men’s fashion by blending classic elegance with modern trends. The platform features curated content, expert tips, and exclusive elements.

    Varma stated, “I am pleased to launch the Oaksmith Style Studio and showcase how men can peg it higher in terms of styling for every occasion. Throughout my career, I have experimented with interesting ways to style and present myself, and I am eager to share these insights. With this collaboration, I aim to bring a fresh perspective and practical approach to men’s styling providing the guidance that many have been seeking. Oaksmith Style Studio is not just about looking good, but about empowering men to express their individuality through style. I am excited to share this new venture with everyone.”

    BBH India CCO Parikshit Bhattacharya commented on the experience of building Oaksmith Style Studio. “Our goal was to create a platform that not only offers style advice but also resonates with the modern man. The Oaksmith Style Studio embodies sophistication, individuality, and practical styling solutions. Working with Vijay Varma and Oaksmith has been an exciting journey, and we are confident that this campaign will set a new benchmark in men’s styling. Oaksmith Style Studio is not just a campaign. We wanted to create a platform that goes beyond style tips and becomes a source of confidence.”

    With its distinct crest, Midori green backdrop, and elegant gold accents, anchoring the new and elevated world of Oaksmith, the Oaksmith Style Studio is a memorable space.

  • Mirzapur Season 3 sparks ‘#NationalBingeWatchDay’ trend with major brands

    Mirzapur Season 3 sparks ‘#NationalBingeWatchDay’ trend with major brands

    Mumbai: The wait is finally over! Prime Video’s fan-favourite franchise, Mirzapur is all set to return with its third installment after a hiatus of four years and the excitement among fans is palpable! Not just Mirzapur loyalists, but even the corporate universe has eagerly anticipated the series’ premiere on Prime Video. Ahead of the show’s launch, individuals and corporates actively joined the chatter, leaving no stone unturned to catapult the premiere day into a historic and unforgettable event. Fans are flooding social media platforms with raging enthusiasm, using the hashtag ‘#NationalBingeWatchDay’.

    Prime Video recently launched a petition to mark the release day of Mirzapur season 3 as  National Binge Watch Day. This unique campaign aimed to show gratitude and boost anticipation among fans eagerly awaiting the new season on the streaming service. As the trend gained momentum,  corporates too joined in the excitement,  sharing their favourite matches. Renowned brands like Google India, Rapido app, Zepto, WOO heal, AJIO, Redmi India, Swiggy Instamart, Bombay Sweet Shop, WOW Skin Science, Cantabil and Cars24 among many others, are hopping on the trend and sharing their version of #NationalBingeWatchDay. The launch of Mirzapur Season 3 is set to be celebrated with interesting collaborations involving influencers, meme pages, and celebrities, all coming together to highlight their favourite #NationalBingeWatchDay and adding to the excitement surrounding the series’ release.

    Created and produced by Excel Media and Entertainment, Mirzapur Season 3 is directed by Gurmeet Singh and Anand Iyer. This season boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi Sharma, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Varma, Isha Talwar, Anjumm Shharma, Priyanshu Painyuli, Harshita Shekhar Gaur, Rajesh Tailang, Sheeba Chadha, Meghna Malik, and Manu Rishi Chadha. The ten-episode series is streaming now exclusively on Prime Video in India and across 240 countries and territories worldwide. 

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  • As ‘Gully Boy’ completes five years, Zoya Akhtar shares her favourite scene with IMDb

    As ‘Gully Boy’ completes five years, Zoya Akhtar shares her favourite scene with IMDb

    Mumbai: Zoya Akhtar’s directorial Gully Boy, inspired by the lives of Indian street rappers DIVINE and Naezy, has reached a significant milestone, celebrating five years of release. The film stars Ranveer Singh as Murad Ahmed, a final-year college student who resides in the Dharavi slums of Mumbai, nurturing a passion for underground rap music. Alongside Singh, the film features Alia Bhatt, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Kalki Koechlin, Vijay Varma, Amruta Subhash, and Vijay Raaz.

    In a recent conversation with IMDb marking the five-year anniversary of Gully Boy, Akhtar discussed her favourite scene from the film and highlighted Ranveer’s character, Murad’s predicament of being denied access to certain places in the city. She expressed, “When he (Murad) gets a job as a driver, he’s always seen outside the bungalow. When he drives the lady of the house for a night out, he stands outside the club. He can’t even be near the door. He only has access to the government hospital or the college where he’s a student.”

    Elaborating and dissecting Murad’s journey as an artist, she added, “As he evolves as an artist, his access expands. This is the first time he enters the home of someone like Sky (Kalki Koechlin). He’s never been to those high-rise apartments. He finds himself in her restroom and can’t help but notice that it’s the size of his entire home.”

    Akhtar also shared insights into the challenges faced while filming this particular scene, mentioning how she struggled to find a suitable location and reached out to her friend Suzanne Khan for assistance. Khan provided a show flat she had designed for a building, where they ultimately shot the scene. Reflecting on the process, Akhtar said, “During rehearsals, we realised there was no running water. So we improvised, starting the scene with him (Singh) wiping his hands. Ranveer improvised by neatly placing the hand towel back, which touched my heart because he didn’t want to disrupt the perfection of the space. Then he proceeds to measure the room, unable to believe that someone has a restroom in their home as big as his entire house. To me, that encapsulates everything—the divide, the disparity, the unfairness. It’s everything.”

    Excerpt of Zoya Akthar’s conversation with IMDb:

     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A post shared by IMDb India (@imdb_in)

     

  • YCOM ropes Vijay Varma as a brand ambassador for #ApniSuno campaign

    YCOM ropes Vijay Varma as a brand ambassador for #ApniSuno campaign

    Mumbai: YCOM, a leading mobile accessories brand in the market since 2011, has launched its much-awaited brand campaign #ApniSuno for the Indian users. The campaign, featuring OTT famed actor Vijay Varma, marks the introduction of YCOM’s innovative range of smart gadgets and mobile accessories, including neckbands, speakers, earpods, chargers and power banks.

    Leading the charge of the video campaign is Vijay Varma, The star spoke to young artists and athletes, with the interaction highlighting a complete synergy between YCOM’s cutting-edge gadgets and its young users.

    The brand video campaign #ApniSuno has been conceptualized to resonate with the dynamic youth of India. Featuring Vijay Varma, the face of YCOM, whose emphatic performances in projects like Darlings, Gully Boy, Pink, Lust Stories 2, and many others, have made him India’s finest youth icon. The video campaign draws a narrative for today’s GenZ and millennial audience who believe in balancing work & personal life, and encourages them to listen to their inner voice. At the heart of the campaign, the video captures the actor synergising with young artists and athletes, defining YCOMs brand identity of being a trendsetter in the smart gadgets and mobile accessories market. With this campaign, the brand emphasizes its allegiance to empower its consumer with attractive choices to premium and yet affordable smartphone gadgets and mobile accessories.

     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A post shared by YCOM (@ycomgadgets)

     

    Commenting on the launch, Varma said, “Growing up as an artist, I craved gadgets that could help me unlock my true potential with respect to how I perceived media, and I feel, YCOM does just that. The brand has taken significant strides when it comes to the smart gadgets landscape in India, and I am beyond thrilled to represent a brand that stands for youth power. I’m honest when I say that it is more than just a brand. YCOM, through its affordable, high-quality, and intricately designed products, is truly empowering the younger generation to recognize their own power and worth.”

    The YCOM group brings along a diverse range of meticulously crafted audio products right from TWS, Neckbands, and Speakers. YCOM’s charging solutions encompass chargers, charging cables, and power banks that are available across India in the offline market. YCOM is dedicated to providing reliable and affordable solutions to consumers.

    Speaking on the campaign launch, YCOM marketing head Rithish Parthasarathy said, “Vijay Varma has a strong resonance with Indian audience, driven by his versatile and hard hitting roles played across various OTT serieses and Indian movies. He embodies the essence of our brand vision and his versatility and ability to connect with the audience will significantly strengthen our relationship with consumers in the most organic way possible. We are excited to have him as the face of our latest brand campaign #ApniSuno and looking forward to a more fulfilling association.”

  • Filmfare OTT Awards fourth edition nominees unveiled: Celebrating the best in the OTT world!

    Filmfare OTT Awards fourth edition nominees unveiled: Celebrating the best in the OTT world!

    Mumbai: Brace yourself for the return of the ultimate recognition in the world of OTT as Filmfare – an entertainment media brand returns with its fouth edition of the Filmfare OTT Awards. After the successful three seasons of its highly acclaimed property, the brand continues to celebrate the geniuses behind the characters that touched hearts, the stories that left a mark. This year, the awards set a new record with 38 categories and over 450 entries, showcasing excellence as the focal point for the finest in the industry.

    While Gajraj Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Jim Sarbh, Vijay Varma, Aparshakti Khurrana and others have been nominated for their gripping performances in the OTT world; talented actresses such as Radhika Apte, Shweta Tripathi, Tripti Dimri, Shriya Pilgaonkar are nominated for their highly acclaimed performance for their respective show/film. Hindi Cinema’s stellar actors Anil Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur are nominated for their brilliant screen time in The Night Manager, and Bloody Daddy respectively. Veteran actresses Ratna Pathak Shah and Dimple Kapadia and other distinguished actresses Kajol, Alia Bhatt, Shefali Shah, Sonakshi Sinha amongst others have been nominated for their captivating performance across categories for their series/film.  Jubilee, TVF Pitchers Season 2, and Darlings have swept the nominations in their respective genres as Best Series (Drama), Best Series (Comedy), and Best Film (Web Original). With these celebrated names, get ready for the ultimate celebration of India’s OTT sensations with the Filmfare OTT Awards 2023!

    Reliving the magic of the most coveted celebration, where every nomination deserves a standing ovation, this year, the awards expanded the ceremony by introducing technical categories for the OTT films section. These categories acknowledge the behind-the-scenes brilliance that enhances the storytelling experience.

    The coveted awards will be held on 26 November 2023 at the prestigious Taj Lands End, Mumbai. The hosts of the evening are Kubbra Sait and Sharib Hashmi, who are all set to entertain the audience with their wit and charm.

    Filmfare OTT Awards 2023 is co-powered by Hyundai Motor India, AJIO, and Film Bandhu – Government of Uttar Pradesh, in association with Fura Gems. The coveted will honour creative excellence across Hindi web original shows and films released between  1 August 2022, to 31 July 2023. Fans can watch the show on Filmfare.com and on its social media touchpoints.

    Here is the complete nomination list –

    Best Series:

    Asur 2
    Dahaad
    Farzi
    Jubilee
    Kohrra
    Rocket Boys Season 2
    School of Lies
    Scoop
    The Night Manager
    Trial by Fire

    Best Director, Series:

    Abhay Pannu (Rocket Boys Season 2)
    Avinash Arun Dhaware (School of Lies)
    Hansal Mehta (Scoop)
    Prashant Nair, Randeep Jha (Trial by Fire)
    Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K (Farzi)
    Randeep Jha (Kohrra)
    Reema Kagti and Ruchika Oberoi (Dahaad)
    Tanuj Chopra (Delhi Crime Season 2)
    Vikramaditya Motwane (Jubilee)

    Best Actor, Series (Male): Drama

    Aamir Bashir (School of Lies)
    Abhay Deol (Trial by Fire)
    Aditya Roy Kapur (The Night Manager)
    Anil Kapoor (The Night Manager)
    Aparshakti Khurana (Jubilee)
    Jim Sarbh (Rocket Boys Season 2)
    Pankaj Tripathi (Criminal Justice- Adhura Sach)
    Shahid Kapoor (Farzi)
    Sidhant Gupta (Jubilee)
    Suvinder Vicky (Kohrra)
    Vijay Varma (Dahaad)

    Best Actor, Series (Female): Drama

    Dimple Kapadia (Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo)
    Kajol (The Trial)
    Karishma Tanna (Scoop)
    Rajshri Deshpande (Trial by Fire)
    Shefali Shah (Delhi Crime Season 2)
    Sonakshi Sinha (Dahaad)
    Wamiqa Gabbi (Jubilee)

    Best Supporting Actor, Series (Male): Drama

    Barun Sobti (Kohrra)
    Bhuvan Arora (Farzi)
    Gulshan Devaiah (Dahaad)
    Harman Baweja (Scoop)
    Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub (Scoop)
    Prathamesh Parab (Taaza Khabar)
    Prosenjit Chatterjee (Jubilee)
    Saswata Chatterjee (The Night Manager)

    Best Supporting Actor, Series (Female): Drama

    Harleen Sethi (Kohrra)
    Nimrat Kaur (School of Lies)
    Radhika Madan (Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo)
    Rasika Dugal (Delhi Crime Season 2)
    Shweta Tripathi (Kaalkoot)
    Tillotama Shome (Delhi Crime Season 2)
    Tillotama Shome (The Night Manager)

    Best Actor, Series (Male): Comedy

    Abhishek Banerjee (The Great Weddings of Munnes)
    Amol Parashar (TVF Tripling S3)
    Atul Kulkarni (Happy Family *Conditions Apply)
    Bhuvan Bam (Rafta Rafta)
    Johnny Lever (Pop Kaun?)
    Kunal Kemmu (Pop Kaun?)

    Best Actor, Series (Female): Comedy

    Aadhya Anand (Crushed Season 2)
    Juhi Parmar (Yeh Meri Family S2)
    Maanvi Gagroo (TVF Tripling)
    Ratna Pathak Shah (Happy Family *Conditions Apply)
    Srishti Ganguli (Rafta Rafta)

    Best Supporting Actor, Series (Male): Comedy

    Arunabh Kumar (TVF Pitchers S2)
    Kumud Mishra (TVF Tripling S3)
    Kunaal Roy Kapur (TVF Tripling S3)
    Naman Jain (Crushed Season 2)
    Purav Jha (Ishq Next Door)

    Best Supporting Actor, Series (Female): Comedy

    Ahsaas Channa (Hostel Daze S3)
    Shernaz Patel (TVF Tripling S3)
    Shilpa Shukla (Taaza Khabar)
    Sunita Rajwar (The Great Weddings of Munnes)
    Swati Das (Happy Family *Conditions Apply)

    Best Comedy (Series/Specials)

    Crushed
    Farzi Mushaira
    Half Pants Full Pants
    Happy Family *Conditions Apply
    Hostel Daze S3
    TVF Pitchers S2
    TVF Tripling S3

    Best Non-Fiction Original, Series/Special

    Cinema Marte Dum Tak
    Dancing on the Grave
    Mumbai Mafia: Police vs Underworld
    Playground 2
    The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives- Season 2
    The Romantics

    Best Film, Web Original

    Babli Bouncer
    Darlings
    Gulmohar
    Kathal
    Lost
    Monica, O My Darling
    Qala
    Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai

    Best Director, Web Original Film

    Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury (Lost)
    Apoorv Singh Kuki (Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai)
    Jasmeet K Reen (Darlings)
    Konkona Sen Sharma (Lust Stories 2)
    Rahul V. Chittella (Gulmohar)
    Vasan Bala (Monica, O My Darling)

    Best Actor, Web Original Film (Male)

    Diljit Dosanjh (Jogi)
    Manoj Bajpayee (Gulmohar)
    Manoj Bajpayee (Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai)
    Rajkummar Rao (Monica O My Darling)
    Shahid Kapoor (Bloody Daddy)
    Varun Dhawan (Bawaal)
    Vijay Varma (Darlings)

    Best Actor, Web Original Film (Female)

    Alia Bhatt (Darlings)

    Huma Qureshi (Monica O My Darling)

    Janhvi Kapoor (Bawaal)

    Sanya Malhotra (Kathal)

    Sharmila Tagore (Gulmohar)

    Tamannaah Bhatia (Babli Bouncer)

    Tripti Dimri (Qala)

    Yami Gautam (Lost)

    Best Supporting Actor, Web Original Film (Male)

    Ayush Mehra (Kacchey Limbu)
    Gajraj Rao (Maja Ma)
    Pankaj Kapur (Lost)
    Rajat Barmecha (Kacchey Limbu)
    Sharib Hashmi (Tarla)
    Suraj Sharma (Gulmohar)

    Best Supporting Actor, Web Original Film (Female)

    Amruta Subhash (Lust Stories 2)
    Radhika Apte (Monica O My Darling)
    Shefali Shah (Darlings)
    Shriya Pilgaonkar (Ishq-E-Nadaan

  • Bumble is back with new edition of its content series ‘Dating These Nights’

    Bumble is back with new edition of its content series ‘Dating These Nights’

    Mumbai: Dating and social networking app Bumble has launched the third edition of its series, Dating These Nights. Featuring Zoya Akhtar, Mrunal Thakur, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Jim Sarbh, Vijay Varma, and Srishti Dixit, the series aims to help people discover and navigate deeper and meaningful conversations around modern romance and dating in 2022. The series can be seen on Bumble’s YouTube channel.

    The first episode, ‘Romances and Bromances’, will feature award-winning filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and actor Jim Sarbh as they dive into “modern masculinity,” discussing what healthy masculinity looks like and more. ‘Age of Love’, the second episode will see popular actors Mrunal Thakur and Shriya Pilgaonkar discuss dating in their 30s—an interesting experience to date on their own terms and timeline. Ending the season, ‘Banking on Love’ will feature the star of the recently released film “Darlings,” Vijay Varma, and influencer Srishti Dixit, who explore the nuances of financial intimacy in relationships in the last episode.

    Bumble India communications director Samarpita Samaddar said, “We are excited to bring back our popular content series in its third edition, this year titled Dating These Nights. We’re flipping the switch with this after-hours series this year where we don’t sleep over it, instead we delve into deeper and more meaningful conversations around topics that are often considered taboo but need to be discussed openly. We are thrilled to be associated with such amazing talent, who are known to have carved their lives and journeys on their own terms. As a brand that understands and speaks to modern romance and evolving dating cultures in India, we hope Dating These Nights sparks more meaningful conversations and encourages healthy and equitable relationships.”

    Akhtar said, “Bumble’s Dating These Nights gives a platform to spark meaningful conversations on less-tackled topics around modern relationships that should be discussed openly.” 

    Sarbh shared, “I consider myself fluid when it comes to these concepts as I don’t hold myself to ‘what should be’ in terms of gender ideas. Masculinity is entirely subjective, but I believe we should consider each human being for what they are as opposed to caging them in societal norms. Hailing from an industry that easily typecasts, I am thrilled to be engaged in conversations that go beyond the shackles of traditional notions. More so with Bumble, as this turns out to be my second rendezvous with them, and I applaud the kind of work they do.” 

    When talking about dating in her 30s, Mrunal Thakur said, “To me, it’s being more assertive about your priorities. In retrospect, even when I meet people who are in their 30s, they are clear about what they want. I am seeking that sort of transparency. Being a part of Bumble’s Dating These Nights series has been an eye-opening process as I’ve been able to discover myself more. These conversations are surely causing a positive change in the world, and I’m happy that I’m a part of this progressive society and blessed that I can pursue life the way I want even in my 30s.”

    Sharing her dating experience in her 30s, Pilgaonkar said, “As you continue to evolve as a person, your idea of love changes, it matures. We get more comfortable with ourselves as we age, and this stems from self-love. In my 30s, I can say that I have a better grasp of who I am and the type of companionship I want to have. It’s time that we normalise dating and explore relationships in our 30s. Bumble’s series does just that by having open conversations and helping individuals navigate their relationships by prioritising themselves over societal norms.”

    Varma, speaking on financial intimacy in relationships, shared, “As a society, we talk about money all the time but we shy away from direct questions about finances as they tend to make us feel insecure. While this stems from patriarchal thinking, I believe this can be destigmatized during the first date itself. Questions like, “Who will pay for the date?” or “Do we split the check?” are a great way to start the money conversation. The idea is to get your partner comfortable with discussing money from the very beginning. Personally, I am a firm believer in having a space to openly discuss these matters in a relationship, and I’m so glad that Bumble is taking the effort to make this mainstream.”

    Dixit candidly spoke about her finances, “Growing up, as girls, we’ve been taught to be very frugal with our money. I believe a lot of them are still learning how to operate their finances better—how to make more, save more, and invest more of their money, and be assertive in such situations. I’m glad I got to associate with Bumble to emphasise the importance of being financially independent in a relationship because, ideally, that is what modern dating should look like. It should be an equal partnership.”