MAM
Himalaya unveils new TVC for purifying Neem face wash
BANGALORE: The Himalaya Drug Company has released its latest television commercial for its product Purifying Neem Face Wash.
The new ad shows the frustration girls face when trying to get rid of ‘skin trouble‘. The story is told in a light-hearted manner.
The young girl in the TVC chooses bizarre props like sunglasses the size of a spaceship to big earrings in a quest to conceal her skin problems. Nothing works and the girl is left feeling miserable.
In the end, her friend steps-in to give her useful advice – Try Himalaya‘s Purifying Neem Face Wash. The final shot shows the girl with clear skin, looking confident, and enjoying admiring glances from a young boy.
The TVC follows a similar narrative to the earlier commercial for Purifying Neem Face Wash, which showed a young girl dealing with her skin troubles by locking herself in her room, wearing a funny hat and experimenting with home remedies.
This time around, the treatment of the ad is very different – it looks fresh, modern, chic and speaks to the discerning consumer, the company said.
The Himalaya Drug Company business head – consumer products division Rajesh K said, “When we spoke to a group of young women to understand what they described as ‘beautiful‘, the common answer was ‘good, healthy skin‘ and one of their biggest concerns was skin trouble. While the new TVC dramatises the different things a girl does to mask her skin problems, the emotions she experiences are very real. The ad highlights this problem in an amusing way and then introduces Himalaya‘s Purifying Neem Face Wash as the ideal solution for skin troubles.”
The creative agency that has worked on the campaign is Meridian Communications (now called Soho Square).
Soho Square head Shenaz Bapooji said, “The earlier Purifying Neem Face Wash commercial was a hit because of the honesty in storytelling. It was quirky and endearing, at the same time it brought out the product message clearly. It worked well for the brand. We wanted to retain that warmth of the original story but also liven it up for the young, discerning audience of today.”
The TVC is directed by Gajraj Rao of Code Red Films, whose previous work includes ads for Cadbury Eclairs, Aman ki asha and Zandu chawanprash.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
