Brands
EBG Group launches EBG Films
NEW DELHI: EBG Group is rolling the cameras. The diversified conglomerate is stepping deeper into India’s content economy with the launch of EBG Films and a joint venture with Button Creative, betting that branded storytelling and original cinema can sit under one scalable roof.
The move folds advertising, digital content, podcasts and feature films into a multi-format platform. Button Creative, a long-time creative partner, will steer advertising films and branded content, while the new EBG Films unit will chase features, biopics and mythology-driven originals.
The group is putting real money behind the ambition. EBG Films will allocate Rs 50 crore a year to fund films, backing projects typically budgeted between Rs 1 crore and Rs 5 crore. One project is already complete, with more to be unveiled.
Irfan Khan, founder and chief executive of EBG Group, set out a three-pronged plan.
“Under this new partnership, Button Creative will lead the Group’s ad films engine, while EBG Films will focus on feature films, biopics, mythology-driven originals, and EBG Shows will advance the Group’s mindful podcast initiatives. Further, EBG Films will allocate Rs 50 crores annually to support content creators by funding films with budgets ranging from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crores. We have already produced one project, and more details will be revealed soon.”
The slate hints at scale and spectacle. EBG Films is collaborating with a major South Indian superstar set to play multiple roles. Upcoming projects include a biopic on Swami Vivekananda and Vayuputra. Partnerships are lined up with Green Gold Animation, the studio behind Chhota Bheem, and with other industry players. The group is also working with Shamsi Abbas, executive producer of Padmaavat, on select titles.
Button Creative’s founders cast the alliance as both shield and springboard in a tightening ad market. Shafique Shad Fakih, co-founder, argued the model blends creative instinct with corporate muscle.
“While many traditional agencies are contracting, this partnership balances Button Creative’s instinct with EBG’s discipline and brand portfolio, allowing both teams to focus on ideas that genuinely move the needle.”
Rohit Prakash, co-founder, said EBG’s backing cuts through red tape.
The backing of EBG Group provides creative liberation by reducing approval bottlenecks and enabling teams to focus on impactful storytelling, adding that feedback on campaigns for brands such as Carlton Wellness, featuring Mrunal Thakur, shows how collaboration can sharpen the work.
Akanscha Ravindra Srivastava, co-founder and chief operating officer, stressed that the tie-up strengthens in-house studio muscle and weaves Button Creative more tightly into EBG’s brand ecosystem and culture.
The content push also doubles as brand building. Hari Kiran, co-founder and chief operating officer of EBG Group, said the company is pairing film ambitions with marketing and social goals.
“In addition to film ventures, EBG Group is pursuing brand partnerships and marketing initiatives by creating branded content for Carlton Wellness and Acer Electric, while enhancing public engagement and visibility. Sustainability and social responsibility remain central to the Group’s mission. EBG Films will also launch a podcast series on underdog founders, sharing stories of entrepreneurial resilience to inspire the next generation of creators.”
He framed the broader play as ecosystem-building.
EBG Group is committed to building a creative ecosystem that supports talent, celebrates storytelling, and drives meaningful social impact. “Our upcoming projects, spanning films, sustainability programs, and strategic creative partnerships, reflect this vision.”
EBG Group, which straddles mobility, health, realty, lifestyle, food, services, technology and education, brands itself around “People • Planet • Progress”, from electric vehicles to wellness and hospitality.
Now it wants cultural capital too. With money on the table, partners in place and stories in the pipeline, EBG is not just selling products, it is scripting narratives. In India’s booming content bazaar, that may prove the savvier bet.
Brands
Harsh K. Rai named CEO of Mahindra’s farm division & gromax
Seasoned business leader returns to India to head farm division and gromax
MUMBAI: Mahindra Group has appointed Harsh K. Rai as CEO of its farm division and gromax business, marking a significant new chapter in the executive’s three-decade corporate journey.
In his new role, Rai will steer the strategic direction and growth of Mahindra’s farm equipment and agri solutions portfolio, focusing on innovation, scale and deeper market reach across the agricultural ecosystem. His appointment comes at a time when India’s farming sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by mechanisation, technology and evolving rural aspirations.
Announcing his move, Rai struck a personal note. “Back in India. Back to roots. Joined Mahindra Group as CEO – farm division & gromax,” he shared. Reflecting on his first few weeks in the field, he spoke of meeting “talented teams, passionate partners and friendly farmers”, and praised Mahindra’s legacy of trust and its enduring commitment to innovation in agriculture. “Looking forward to build it together,” he added.
Rai joins Mahindra after serving as CEO of overseas spinning at Aditya Birla Group in Jakarta from August 2023 to January 2026. Prior to that, he was senior executive president at UltraTech Cement, where he spent over four years in Mumbai overseeing key business operations.
A large part of his career, however, was shaped at PepsiCo, where he held multiple leadership roles over 14 years. From marketing head for new brands such as Tropicana and Gatorade to vice president sales and commercial unit gm for India food and beverage, Rai built a reputation for driving growth across regions and categories. He also served as CEO and managing director of NourishCo Beverages Limited, the joint venture between PepsiCo and Tata, and sat on its board.
His early career began at Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, where he rose through the ranks from management trainee to regional manager in the lighting division.
From beverages to building materials and textiles, Rai has led businesses across sectors and geographies. Now, as he returns to India’s heartland with Mahindra’s farm portfolio in hand, the focus shifts to fields rather than factory floors. If his track record is anything to go by, the seeds of growth may already be sown.
