MAM
Laqshya Media turns WPL 2026 into a live entertainment spectacle
MUMBAI: Cricket stayed centre stage, but entertainment did the heavy lifting. Laqshya Media Group delivered one of the most ambitious fan-engagement showcases seen at the Women’s Premier League 2026, transforming DY Patil Stadium into a non-stop live spectacle and keeping crowds firmly in their seats between overs.
Entrusted with the entertainment and fan-engagement mandate for the first time, Laqshya executed a tightly choreographed programme that fused music, celebrity power and match-day precision. The result was packed stands, sustained energy and seamless transitions that never distracted from the cricket.
The standout moment came when Yo Yo Honey Singh strode in from the dugout alongside Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, turning the ground into a full-blown concert. Jacqueline Fernandez followed with a high-energy performance, while a rolling line-up featuring Benny Dayal, Euphoria, Daler Mehndi, Sanju Rathod, Raja Kumari and Varun Dhawan, promoting Border 2, kept the tempo relentless.
Behind the scenes, coordination between BCCI’s on-ground teams and Laqshya’s execution crews ensured safety, timing and uninterrupted play, setting a new benchmark for mid-innings engagement in women’s cricket.
“Cricket will always remain the main hero, and that belief drives everything we do,” said Satyabrata Das, project head and chief alliance officer at Laqshya Media Group. “Our role is to complement the game with thoughtfully curated entertainment that enhances the live experience without overpowering it. WPL 2026 has shown that when cricket and entertainment are seamlessly aligned, fans choose to stay, engage, and celebrate together. This is a new, evolved way of building stadium culture in India.”
WPL 2026 has already clocked one of its strongest stadium turnouts, underscoring the growing pull of live women’s cricket. Laqshya now heads to Vadodara for the tournament’s next leg, with fresh innovations promised ahead of the February 5 finale.
Cricket may be the hero. Laqshya made sure the show never stopped.
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.
