MAM
Indian thriller web-series collects Rs 9 lakh via crowd-funding
NEW DELHI: Indian crowd-funding thriller web series Hankaar, has successfully received Rs 9 lakh, which is more than a lakh of its initial target, with the help of 157 backers.
Hankaar had set a target of Rs 8 lakh in 50 days. The series is slated for release in January next year.
Set in Mumbai in the backdrop of drugs, real-estate dirty deals and prostitution, Hankaar is ‘realistic fiction’ content in the thriller and drama genre. It explores the stories of five ordinary people who go through extraordinary life changing experiences.
The cast includes Sanjay Bhatia, Rajesh Balwani, Ankur Vikal, Ram Menon, Sharda Nand Singh, Priyadarshi P and Yogini Chowk.
The makers say they chose the Internet and not TV channels as these do not look beyond saas-bahu sagas. The content and theme of the series is realistic but not accepted as content to be viewed on mainstream television.
Hankaar went live on Wishberry.in a month ago and surpassed their funding goal with the help of 157 backers who will now be named as co-producers and will also have the chance to give their inputs in the making of the series.
Hankaar director and producer Ravi Iyer said, “We are overwhelmed by the support we got and hope to entertain the audience. We plan to make not one but three seasons of Hankaar.”
With the average Indian spending more than eight hours on the internet and the majority of TV content being aimed at women over 35 years, Iyer felt the time was right to launch the first ever tech thriller web series.
Writer Yogi Chopra said, “As producers we realise that Indian television is not ready for this kind of content. But we are keen to create not just one, but at least three seasons of this series. It is certain that the audience for this type of content is there, but because it is deemed non-commercial, it is difficult to find required funding.”
Brands
Sapphire Foods FY26 revenue rises to Rs 3,125 crore, posts loss
Q4 revenue at Rs 792 crore, FY26 loss at Rs 32 crore amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: If growth is on the menu, profitability seems to have taken a brief detour. Sapphire Foods India reported a steady rise in topline for FY26, even as rising costs weighed on profitability. Revenue from operations grew to Rs 3,125 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, up from Rs 2,882 crore in FY25. However, the company swung to a loss, reporting a net loss of Rs 32 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 17 crore in the previous year. Total income for the year stood at Rs 3,153 crore, while total expenses climbed to Rs 3,167 crore, reflecting pressure across key cost heads.
In the March quarter, revenue came in at Rs 792 crore, compared to Rs 711 crore in the same period last year. The company reported a quarterly net loss of Rs 13 crore, against a profit of Rs 2 crore a year earlier.
Cost pressures remained visible across operations. Material costs rose to Rs 995 crore for FY26, while employee expenses increased to Rs 428 crore. Other expenses, the largest component, stood at Rs 1,229 crore, underscoring the impact of store operations and expansion-related spends.
Depreciation and amortisation expenses also climbed to Rs 392 crore for the year, reflecting continued investments in store infrastructure and growth.
At the operating level, the company reported a loss before tax of Rs 37 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 23 crore in FY25. Exceptional items added Rs 24 crore to the cost burden during the year.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 3,256 crore as of March 31, 2026, up from Rs 3,041 crore a year earlier, indicating ongoing expansion. Net worth stood at Rs 1,389 crore.
Despite profitability pressures, operating cash flow remained resilient at Rs 507 crore, highlighting underlying business strength and demand stability.
The numbers paint a familiar picture in the quick-service restaurant space, growth continues to be served hot, but margins are still finding their footing.
