MAM
Leo Entertainment launches TVC for movie ‘Baghbaan’
MUMBAI: What better product to endorse a family film than a detergent! Leo Entertainment’s latest ad-‘venture’ for television, cashes on that exact sentiment.
After jumpstarting the multi-million marriage between a movie and a brand with Sanjay Gupta’s Kaante, the film marketing division of Leo Burnett India, has unleashed its latest major joint TV commercial for BR Chopra’s family entertainer Baghban brand positioning Proctor and Gamble’s detergent brand Tide.
A still from ‘Baghbaan’
Already on air on the major Hindi entertainment channels, the TVC is picturised on Holi song filmed in the movie. Based on the same unique format as the previous Tide ads, the Baghban ad takes a climax point of the clip and adds a unique twist, a whitening experience so to speak.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Leo Entertainment Head Sanjay Bhutiani said, “Coincidently while we were on a look out for brands to endorse Baghban, our client P&G approached us. After studying the previous ads we decided to brainstorm on Baghban.”
Hema Malini in her spotless white
Apparently the creative was complete six months back, but Leo Entertainment managed to keep a lid on the television ad created. While the previous joint TV commercials have been launched pre movie release, Bagban-Tide ad was scheduled for the post launch period. “We were sure of the movie’s success and therefore we wanted the association to build up post the movie launch,” says Bhutiani.
The colourful Mr Big B
With the song ‘Hori Khelat Raghuvira’ from the movie, sung by Amitabh Bachchan, as the playback for the ad, the mood is set. The 44-second TVC shows the film’s leading lady Hema Malini looking gorgeous in her spotless bright white attire joining in the colourful festivity along side Amitabh Bachchan. At the moment when she is just about to be sprayed with colour a tide pouch zooms across the screen and the audience sees a her outfit is even more sparkling white, thanks to the “Tide touch”.
Whiter than the whitest white- Tide
“While we were planning the TVC, most of the movie had been completed except for the Holi scene. We then shot new scenes with Hema Malini and the troupe and merged it with scenes from the movie,” says Bhutiani.
Apart from having orchestrated this deal, Leo Entertainment is all geared to work on its next venture for Amitabh Bachchan’s new company AB Corp. Leo Entertainment will be developing brand strategies and advertising for all the forthcoming films produced by AB Corp. The first venture is Amitabh and Abhishek Bachachan starrer Ranveer. While the film is still in the scripting stage, Leo will be working on the promotional aspects as soon as the script is ready.
After the appreciation of the Darna Mana Hai promotions, Leo Entertainment will also be working on the promotions of the forthcoming movies from the Ram Gopal Varma banner. First in the pipeline is Ab Tak Chappan, which however, has no brand associations attached. Leo is in process of developing the advertising campaign for the film. Next venture is the mega project from Varma Corp – Ek. Rumored to be the most expensive Hindi movie ever made and reportedly budgeted at Rs 750 million, Ek is scheduled to launch next year. That apart, the company will be working on the promotional campaign for Varma Corp’s upcoming Ab Tak Chhappan. Next to follow is Gayab. Both films will release before Ek.
Brands
Maruti Suzuki posts record FY26 profit of Rs 14,445 crore, dividend at Rs 140
Sales hit 24.22 lakh units as Q4 revenue crosses Rs 50,000 crore mark
NEW DELHI: Maruti Suzuki India Limited reported its highest-ever annual performance for FY2025-26, with record sales volumes, revenue and profit, alongside a dividend of Rs 140 per share.
The company posted net sales of Rs 1,74,369.5 crore for the full year, marking a 20.2 per cent increase over FY2024-25. Net profit stood at an all-time high of Rs 14,445.4 crore, up slightly from Rs 14,297.6 crore in the previous year.
Total sales for the year reached 24,22,713 units, compared to 22,34,266 units last year. Domestic sales accounted for 19,74,939 units, while exports rose sharply to 4,47,774 units from 3,32,585 units a year earlier. The company retained its position as India’s top passenger vehicle exporter for the fifth consecutive year, contributing 49 per cent of total exports.
Exports of the made-in-India e VITARA, the company’s first battery electric vehicle, expanded to 44 countries, highlighting its growing global footprint.
In the January to March quarter, Maruti Suzuki recorded its highest-ever quarterly sales of 6,76,209 units, an increase of 11.8 per cent year-on-year. Domestic sales stood at 5,38,994 units, while exports touched a record 1,37,215 units.
Quarterly net sales crossed the Rs 50,000 crore milestone for the first time, reaching Rs 50,078.7 crore, up from Rs 38,839.1 crore in the same quarter last year.
Operating profit, measured as EBIT, rose 30.4 per cent to Rs 4,409.2 crore, reflecting improved operating efficiency. However, net profit declined 6.9 per cent year-on-year to Rs 3,590.5 crore, primarily due to mark-to-market impacts.
The company said growth in the second half of the year was supported by a reduction in GST rates, which boosted demand in the domestic market. However, production constraints remained a challenge, with around 1,90,000 pending customer orders at the end of the year, including nearly 1,30,000 in the small car segment. Dealer inventory levels were also low, at about 12 days of stock.
During the year, Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited was amalgamated into the parent company, effective 1 December 2025, with financials restated from 1 April 2025 for comparability.
The board recommended a dividend of Rs 140 per share, up from Rs 135 in FY2024-25, marking the highest payout in the company’s history.
With strong export momentum, improving domestic demand and continued capacity constraints, Maruti Suzuki enters FY27 balancing growth opportunities with supply-side challenges, even as it strengthens its position in both conventional and electric vehicle segments.
