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Tag: Vivek oberoi

  • Solitario Lab-Grown Diamonds secures $3.6 million pre-IPO funding

    Solitario Lab-Grown Diamonds secures $3.6 million pre-IPO funding

    MUMBAI: The future of diamonds is brighter, and it’s not coming from the mines. Solitario Lab-Grown Diamonds, co-founded by jewellery industry veteran Ricky Vasandani and Indian cinema actor Vivek Oberoi, has successfully raised $3.6 million in a pre-IPO funding round, valuing the company at $18.3 million (Rs. 150 crore).

    The funding attracted marquee investors, including Neeraj Gupta (Meru Cabs founder), Mauritius-based FPI Investi Global, Vicco Group, and Seema Manish Nuwal (Solar Industries promoter). A roster of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, including Amit Agarwal, Rajesh Singla, Garima Theti, and Sandeep Singh, also participated in the round. Socradamus Capital Private Ltd acted as the book running lead manager for the transaction.

    Solitario is rewriting the jewellery rulebook, proving that lab-grown diamonds are not just sustainable but also luxurious and desirable. The company offers an exquisite range of diamond jewellery, including necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, and pendants.

    Their financial growth is as dazzling as their diamonds—revenues soared from Rs 24.3 crore in FY 2023 to Rs 52 crore in FY 2024. And they are just getting started.

    Vasandani shared his excitement, stating, “This investment validates our vision of creating beautiful, sustainable jewellery that doesn’t compromise our planet’s future. The funds will accelerate our expansion plans and strengthen our position in the growing lab-grown diamond market. Solitario is not only creating jewellery but also crafting a legacy of environmental responsibility and exceptional craftsmanship.”

    Solitario already shines across 18 stores in 10 major Indian cities and an international presence in Dubai, Malaysia, and Spain with 38 outlets. The brand has also forged an exclusive partnership with PNG to launch stores in seven more cities.

    The company operates a state-of-the-art 30,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Surat, employing over 300 people. With these robust foundations, Solitario is set to expand its retail network domestically and internationally, enhance branding and marketing, develop a broader product portfolio, and boost manufacturing capabilities.

    In a milestone moment, Solitario recently became the first lab-grown diamond brand to be showcased on the Burj Khalifa, reinforcing its global appeal.

    The Indian gem and jewellery market is expected to grow from $43 billion in 2021 to $91 billion by 2025. Meanwhile, the lab-grown diamond market, currently valued at $250 million in 2023, is projected to hit $1.2 billion by 2033. Solitario aims to capture a significant share of this booming market, targeting Rs. 500 crore in revenue by 2028.

    Solitario’s collection features over 500 unique designs, ranging from everyday elegance to high-end luxury. Their diamonds boast the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as mined diamonds, but with a 40-50 per cent lower price tag and a guilt-free, sustainable footprint.

    As consumers increasingly seek eco-conscious luxury, Solitario is positioned as the go-to brand for those who want the sparkle without the environmental strain.

  • Prime Video’s grand gesture of appreciation: Watch Indian Police Force’s first episode for free

    Prime Video’s grand gesture of appreciation: Watch Indian Police Force’s first episode for free

    Mumbai: Following the success of the Amazon Original series Indian Police Force, Prime Video delighted fans by providing special access to the first episode of the riveting series for free on the service. The overwhelming response to the show’s adrenaline-pumping moments and impressive visuals is a testament to its widespread appeal. Offering free viewing is a way of thanking the fans who played a role in making it a massive success. The high octane series has achieved the milestone of becoming the most binge-watched first season of an Indian Original on Prime Video in the first week of its launch. The series also trended in the ‘Top 10’ titles’ list in 65 countries globally in the launch week. Rohit Shetty’s digital directorial debut has been nothing short of a mass entertainer with intense action sequences and power-packed performances, featuring talented actors Sidharth Malhotra, Shilpa Shetty, and Vivek Oberoi.

    Directed by Shetty and Prakash, Indian Police Force proudly pays an ode to the selfless service, unconditional commitment and fierce patriotism of the Indian police officers across the country who put everything on the line in their call of duty to keep us safe. The series is now streaming exclusively on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

  • Indian Police Force tops Prime Video’s first-week binge-watch charts

    Indian Police Force tops Prime Video’s first-week binge-watch charts

    Mumbai: Following its worldwide premiere, Amazon Original Indian Police Force has achieved the milestone of becoming the most binge-watched first season of an Indian Original on Prime Video in the first week of its launch.  The action-packed series by Rohit Shetty has been lauded by the viewers, and it continues to win hearts across India and around the world. The high-octane action series also trended in the ‘Top 10’ titles’ list in 65 countries globally in the launch week.

    With its adrenaline-pumping action sequences, gripping narrative, larger-than-life visuals and stellar performances, the seven-episode series makes for a binge-worthy mass entertainer. Indian Police Force proudly pays an ode to the selfless service, unconditional commitment and fierce patriotism of the Indian police officers across the country who put everything on the line in their call of duty to keep us safe.

    “Amazon Original series Indian Police Force has set a new benchmark in the streaming space. The show has received immense love and appreciation for its thrilling action sequences, edge-of-the-seat storytelling, and brilliant performances,” said Prime Video, India country director Sushant Sreeram. “Embraced as a fast-paced, action-packed mass entertainer, showcasing Rohit Shetty’s signature style of filmmaking, the series has found love worldwide, trending in the Top 10 list of 65 countries. Our collective intent with the show was not only to entertain audiences but also pay an ode to the many men and women in uniform who have contributed to building our great nation. The success of the series is a testament that the show and its intended spirit has resonated with audiences in India and globally. We are thrilled with such an overwhelming response for Indian Police Force, which truly celebrates the patriotism and relentless spirit of our police officers.”

    “It has been absolutely wonderful to have joined forces with Prime Video and scripting a success story together with Indian Police Force. Embracing my digital directorial debut, the maiden collaboration truly gave wings to my creative vision in taking my passion project to a wide spectrum of audiences worldwide. My fans have loved my cop films over the years, and it gives me immense joy to transport my craft of storytelling and action filmography to the world of streaming through Indian Police Force. I’m thrilled with the love and appreciation that the show has garnered so far not only in India but also in several other countries around the globe on Prime Video. I am grateful to all my fans, the cast and crew for making this show super successful. Kudos to all!” said filmmaker Rohit Shetty.

    Directed by Rohit Shetty and Sushwanth Prakash, Indian Police Force features Sidharth Malhotra, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, and Vivek Oberoi in lead roles, along with Shweta Tiwari, Nikitin Dheer, Rituraj Singh, Mukesh Rishi, and Lalit Parimoo in pivotal roles. The series is now streaming exclusively on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
     

  • Prime Video unveils trailer of Indian Police Force – the next chapter of Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe

    Prime Video unveils trailer of Indian Police Force – the next chapter of Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe

    MUMBAI: Prime Video, India’s loved entertainment destination launched the action-packed trailer of the highly anticipated Amazon Original series Indian Police Force. The upcoming series promises an entertainment extravaganza, high on action, suspense, thrill, and drama, taking audiences worldwide on an immersive journey into the next chapter of Rohit Shetty’s iconic Cop Universe. Created by Rohit Shetty and directed by Rohit Shetty and Sushwanth Prakash, the cop action drama marks Shetty’s digital directorial debut in a spectacle that is headlined by Sidharth Malhotra. Besides Malhotra, the ensemble cast also boasts Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Vivek Oberoi,Shweta Tiwari,Nikitin Dheer,Rituraj Singh,Mukesh Rishi,Lalit Parimoo in pivotal roles.

    It pays a heartfelt tribute to the selfless service, unwavering commitment, and fierce patriotism of Indian police officers who put everything on the line in their call of duty to keep the nation safe. The seven-episode series is set to premiere exclusively on 19 January 2024, on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Indian Police Force is the latest addition to the Prime membership. Prime members in India enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership for just Rs 1499 a year.

    The trailer takes viewers on a nail-biting ride through various cityscapes, each frame heightening the suspense with a ticking bomb clock that ultimately culminates in explosive blasts. Amidst this looming danger, the cop drama unfolds, showcasing a thrilling chase led by our courageous protagonists – Sidharth Malhotra, Vivek Oberoi, and Shilpa Shetty Kundra. Together, they confront the masterminds behind the bomb blasts, bravely navigating the chaos to safeguard the city from imminent threats, embodying a profound sense of patriotism.

    Sharing his thoughts on the trailer launch day, Sidharth Malhotra said, “Proud to don the Khaki vardi in the ‘Indian Police Force,’ the next chapter of the cop universe with maestro Rohit Shetty. Portraying our brave hearts is always a huge responsibility, and being able to do that through Kabir Malik’s character was an honour. The commitment and relentless pursuit of the truth, even in the face of danger, reflect the true spirit of our nation’s police force. The narrative of this cop action drama delves deeper into the sacrifices made by our police officers to ensure the nation’s safety. Excited to take the audiences on a thrilling and entertaining journey, celebrating and honoring our real-life heroes. Jai Hind.”

    Actress Shilpa Shetty said, “Being a part of the Indian Police Force was a transformative experience for me. It’s not just a cop series; it’s a tribute to the unsung heroes of our nation – the brave police officers. Indian Police Force packs an adrenaline rush from the word go, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. Collaborating with Rohit Shetty for my first web series in his cop universe as the 1st female cop, was truly a big moment for me. His vision and experience in the cop milieu has added a unique intensity to the portrayal of law enforcement officers on celluloid. Being a female cop in the series, engaging in action sequences was both empowering and exhilarating. My part is a strong character showcasing that strength and resilience know no gender, and I am proud to be part of a series that celebrates the diversity of our Indian Police Force.”

    Vivek Oberoi added,“The countdown to an action-packed ride begins. Indian Police Force is an ode to the real-life heroes who stand tall against threats to our country. It salutes the indomitable spirit of our police forces, the series is not just about the threats; it’s about the resilience and courage to face them head-on. Working with Rohit Shetty in his cop universe has been an unforgettable experience, etched into my memory forever. His passion for storytelling and dedication to authenticity made the journey memorable, and I feel privileged to be a part of this cinematic world created by him.”

  • Prime Video announces global premiere of ‘Inside Edge S3’ on 3 Dec

    Prime Video announces global premiere of ‘Inside Edge S3’ on 3 Dec

    Mumbai: Amazon Prime Video and Excel Media and Entertainment have announced that the third season of Amazon original series “Inside Edge” will premiere globally on 3 December.

    “The International Emmys nominated series, Inside Edge was the first Indian Amazon Original that received immense appreciation, accolades and helped set a high bar for storytelling,” said Amazon Prime Video India head of India originals Aparna Purohit. “Replete with multiple twists and turns, the new season of Inside Edge has in store a lot more drama and mystery that will unravel through a riveting story and would impress fans and audiences alike in India and beyond.”

    The show has been created by Karan Anshuman and directed by Kanishk Varma, season three stars Vivek Oberoi, Richa Chadha, Tanuj Virwani, Aamir Bashir, Sayani Gupta, Sapna Pabbi, Akshay Oberoi, Sidhant Gupta, and Amit Sial.

    “The overwhelming response Inside Edge has received from viewers and critics alike has encouraged us to present yet another exciting season,” said Excel Entertainment producer Ritesh Sidhwani. “We are thrilled to chronicle the next gripping phase of the journey of Mumbai Mavericks, which will ultimately decide the fate of the team that has battled many odds.”

  • NexBrand’s Brand Vision Summit honours brands

    NexBrand’s Brand Vision Summit honours brands

    NexBrand’s Brand Vision Summit 2020, powered by Kamdhenu, was held on February 20 in Mumbai. The fifth edition of the event saw top names from India’s corporate and entertainment sectors being felicitated for their work through the year.

    This year, Brand Vision Summit had Anurag Thakur, MOS – Finance& Corporate Affairs, Government of India, as the chief guest. He spoke on how the recipients that night were the engines that will ride India’s to the next phase of global prominence. Lok Sabha MP Dr Arvind Kumar Sharma was also present as the Guest of Honour.

    Over the past five years, NexBrand’s Brand Vision Summit has honoured India’s top achievers across Corporate, Healthcare, Philanthropy, Education and Entertainment. Past honorees include stellar personalities such as Niranjan Hiranandani, Sonam Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Ayushmann Khurrana, Vidya Balan, Amit Burman, Kiran Mazumdar – Shaw amongst many other renowned names.

    Chandrika Maheshwari, Founder – Brand Vision and Jt. Managing Director – NexBrands, said: “The Summit is the culmination of a dream to see India’s top inspirations on the stage of Brand Vision Summit. Each winner tonight has left an indelible ink on India’s growth and path to the future. It is our honor to recognize their work and use the stage to propel the voices farther across the world”

    Saurav Dasgupta, Co-Founder- Brand Vision and Jt. Managing Director – NexBrands, said: “We have been using our unique and time-tested 3i model, that evaluates the impact people and businesses make on societies and economies. Each recipient of the title “The Extraordinaire” has not just excelled on these parameters, but also gone above and beyond what the society expects of them. They’re inspirations to an entire generation, and we are so honored they chose to spend time with us tonight"

    Brand Vision’s 3i model evaluates brands on the basis of Impact, Innovation and Imagery, to understand the holistic effect they have on Indian eco-system. It avoids the pitfalls of the regular jury-based models that often fall prey to human biases and errors.

    Anurag Thakur, MOS – Finance& Corporate Affairs, said: “I applaud NexBrands for your efforts to recognize and honour deserving leaders from across India and congratulate each one of you on your exceptional achievements and excellence. Our incredible country is also a BRAND. Intent, Intensity and Integrity are the three elements that define our Governments vision for a Global India…A BRAND – “NEW INDIA”.

    Sunil Agarwal, Whole Time Director, Kamdhenu Group, said: “Platforms like these empower the honorees to take their work wider and deeper and inspire many to keep doing better. Kamdhenu Group is built by amazing people who have put in a lot of hard work to make the group reach envious heights and hence, we understand how much sweat and play it takes for a brand or a personality to be recognized at such a dais.

    Brand Vision Summit’s grand red carpet saw stars walk down on it, including Bhumi Pednekar, Yami Gautam, Sunny Leone, Aditya Roy Kapur, Guru Randhawa, Vivek Oberoi, Rakul Preet Singh and many more.

  • Zee TV to launch the third season of ‘India’s Best Dramebaaz’

    Zee TV to launch the third season of ‘India’s Best Dramebaaz’

    MUMBAI: Locked in a see-saw battle with Colors for top billing in the Hindi GEC space, Zee TV has made its latest move. The Puneet Goenka-led channel’s latest offering to the Indian audiences is season three of ‘India’s Best Dramebaaz’. Having enjoyed a successful run during the first two seasons, the third instalment of the show will go on air starting 30 June 2018. The Essel Vision-produced show will be telecast on Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm.

    “We are expecting this show to be in the top 5 list of Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) space,” Zee TV’s deputy business head Deepak Rajadhyaksha said.

    The objective of the show is quite simple – create a fresh bank of talent that would help grow the Indian entertainment industry.

    He added that the format of the show not only allows the kids to sharpen their performance abilities, but also gives them the exposure to shed their inhibitions and become names to reckon with in the entertainment business.

    “This season, we salute unsung heroes who have sown the seeds of an extraordinary future through proactively contributing to society in a humanitarian way,” he added. In a sense, every episode is bound to a be a tribute to these brave kids.

    Given the digital video penetration, India’s Best Dramebaaz will no doubt be available on ZEE TV’s OTT platform ZEE5. The show could also be dubbed in various languages to garner more traction from the viewers.

    “We might dub the show in various languages, but nothing has been decided yet,” Rajadhyaksha clarified.

    The show will have Bollywood celebrities Sonali Bendre, Vivek Oberoi and Omung Kumar as the mentors to guide and groom the young prodigies throughout their journey. Shantanu Maheshwari, popular dancer, actor, and Vighnesh Pandey, a ventriloquist will turn hosts for the third season. 

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  • Bhojpuri superstar Ravi Kishan to make his digital debut with ALTBalaji’s next crime-based web series

    Bhojpuri superstar Ravi Kishan to make his digital debut with ALTBalaji’s next crime-based web series

    ALTBalaji is India’s largest OTT platform for original and exclusive shows. Since its launch in April, ALTBalaji has more than 15 million mobile downloads. The ad free, subscription-based platform is available in over 90 countries and offers original content in various Indian regional languages, making it India’s largest repository for original and exclusive digital content.

    2018 has started on a high note for ALTBalaji with big announcements such as Habib Faisal and big back to back hits like The Test Case and Haq Se. With many more engaging and interesting #ALTBalajiOriginals in the pipeline, the digital platform has announced its next collaboration – The platform has signed up Bhojpuri superstar Ravi Kishan for its next crime based digital show tentatively titled The Family. ALTBalaji had recently announced Vivek Oberoi in the project and now this news comes in as yet another big surprise!

    Ravi Kishan who is making his digital debut with ALTBalaji will be seen playing a pivotal role in the show. Sharing his excitement for the project, Ravi said “Very very excited to debut in a web series and what better association than ALTBalaji. The concept is different and not explored much. This is also the first time that I am collaborating with Ekta Kapoor and I am very excited about it.”

    Interestingly Vivek recently took to his social media handle to announce Ravi Kishan’s association with the project.

    Owing to the popularity of crime dramas in the International digital space, ALTBalaji is now all set to explore the genre that focuses on the dark world of the mafia land.

  • Known actors profitable to web series: ALTBalaji’s Manav Sethi

    Known actors profitable to web series: ALTBalaji’s Manav Sethi

    MUMBAI: Bollywood actors are seeking refuge in TV and online series. The spurt of content with known big-screen faces points to a trend of getting value out of their established names.

    ALTBalaji has launched a plethora of shows with A-list names. “It is more profitable to sign an actor when he does justice to the role and the script does justice to the actor. It is not about celebrity or non-celebrity. We are the first one to sign Rajkumar Rao for an online series. We, as creative shop and storytellers, don’t go behind celebrities, we go behind actors,” says ALTBalaji CMO Manav Sethi.

    Actor selection is not dependent on his one time success or failure. “When we script, we check which talent will be suitable,” he adds.

    The actor’s fee in movies is significantly higher than web series. Actors are paid in the range of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore for a series, which is significantly less than their movie fee. What makes them settle? Sethi answers, “Movie is a medium that is restricted and constricted whereas online shows give them a lot more freedom, versatility and options and I believe that entices them.” He adds that another crucial factor is the ability of web series to reach out to far and diverse audiences.

    The tactic also works for the creator because they can ensure their work reaches millions of people with less marketing and communication. The production cost goes up by 25-50 per cent if they sign a known face.  

    ALTBalaji launched a web series The Test Case on Republic Day with actors like Juhi Chawla, Nimrat Kaur and Rahul Dev. A few days back, ALT had roped in Vivek Oberoi for its upcoming web series Family (working title). Before that, it came up with Bose: Dead or Alive with Rajkumar Rao. Earlier, Ragini MMS Returns had the Bengali beauty Riya Sen. Soon, Haq Se will stream with Bollywood actors like Rajeev Khandelwal and Surveen Chawla in the lead.

    ALTBalaji is heating up the online content game by releasing web series back to back in 2018 with the promise of doing about 200-250 hours of original content this year. The VoD player is betting high on popular Bollywood and TV actors, which increases the cost but still gets them significantly better results.

    Also Read :

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    ALTBalaji bets big on first-time producers with Haq Se

  • Olive Crowns JWT’s ‘campaign of the year’

    MUMBAI: The India Chapter of International Advertising Association (IAA) hosted the 7th edition of its annual property, the Olive Crown Awards. JWT leads the pack as they bag four Golds at the Olive Crown Awards 2017, on Wednesday 15 March at Famous Studios, Mahalaxmi (Mumbai). The awards acknowledged the remarkable work of those individuals who drove the message of sustainability or ‘green advertising’. The event was attended by senior marketing, media and advertising professionals from across the country.

    An eminent jury comprising renowned professionals such as K V Sridhar, Founder & Chief Creative Officer of Hyper Collective; Sonal Dabral, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer of DDB Mudra Group, India; Carlton Disilva, CEO & CCO of Hungama Digital Services, Malvika Mehra, ​Founder & Creative Director of Tomorrow Creative ​Lab ​and Raj Nair, CEO & Chief Creative Officer of Madison BMB, shortlisted the winners through a rigorous process, keeping in mind the contribution of each individual towards saving the earth. The jury for the Corporate Crusader award included Shernaz Vakil, Chairman & MD of Dai-ichi Karkaria Ltd, Suresh L. Goklaney, CEO of Eureka Forbes Ltd, Sachin Kalbag, Editor of The Hindu and K. Anandasagar, MD & Chief Compliance Officer of Citibank, following a similar procedure in short-listing the winners.

    The awards were presented across 20 different categories, including the coveted title ‘Green Crusader of the Year’ award, which was presented to the charming actress Dia Mirza for her contribution towards the welfare of the society by associating with NGOs, in addition to her constant efforts towards the green initiative. The award was presented by Monica Tata, along with the Guest of ​Honour, Actor and Social contributor Vivek Oberoi. The’ Campaign of the Year’ and the ‘Brand of the Year’ awards was presented to The Hindu for their #spiritofBengaluru campaign, ideated by J Walter Thompson, India.

    IAA India chapter president Neeraj Roy said, “It is really heartening to see the message of a ‘Green Earth’ reach millions of people with the effective apparatus of mass media. We are extremely honored to host yet another successful edition of the awards, and we look forward to replicating the same success in the coming years with more captivating entries that are contributing in making the world a better place to live in.”

    Vivek Oberoi said, “Thanks to a tradition that my family started 11 years ago in our Juhu house lane, of planting trees on each birthday, our locality has transformed, bringing about a significant change.”

    Dia Mirza said, “It is a honour to receive the award for Green Crusader of the Year at Olive Crown Awards 2017. It is crucial and extremely difficult to make people realize this umbilical link we have towards the environment.”