Brands
Amazon appoints Menka Asrani as lead studio
To drive branded content for Prime Video within Amazon Ads ecosystem
MUMBAI: Amazon has appointed Menka Asrani as lead studio, strengthening its branded content ambitions within the Amazon Ads ecosystem for its OTT platform.
Asrani announced the move, saying she will lead branded content initiatives that bring together storytelling, brand partnerships and audience-first thinking. “This role brings together storytelling, brand partnerships and audience-first thinking—areas I’ve been deeply passionate about throughout my career,” she shared, adding that she looks forward to building content solutions that forge stronger connections between brands and audiences in the premium digital entertainment space.
She also expressed gratitude to Gulshan Verma for the opportunity and said she is eager to collaborate with the team to shape brand storytelling at scale.
Asrani joins Amazon after a year at Collective Artists Network, where she served as head brand solutions – BigBang.Social. Prior to that, she spent over three years at Viacom18 Media Private Limited, leading branded content creative for digital ventures at JioCinema’s entertainment vertical.
Her earlier stint as head of sales strategy and brand solutions at Zee5 saw her drive data-led content solutions and revenue strategies across digital and tv+. She has also held brand solutions roles at The Walt Disney Company, Bloomberg TV India and DB Corp Ltd., building intellectual properties and multi-platform brand partnerships.
Across her career, Asrani has produced and shaped high-impact branded properties and original formats. These include the L’Oréal Professional Indian Hairdressing Awards, an original hairstyling reality series featuring filmmaker Karan Johar as a judge, the anthology Saath By Chance on JioCinema, and Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films’ Select Films Select Conversations.
With over a decade of experience spanning print, television and digital, Asrani brings a rare mix of creative instinct and commercial acumen. At Amazon, that blend is expected to power branded storytelling that feels less like advertising and more like entertainment audiences choose to watch.
Brands
Bosch and Tata AutoComp to form JV for e-mobility in India
Equal stake venture to build electric drive systems and motors
BENGALURU: Bosch Limited and Tata AutoComp Systems are joining forces to tap into India’s fast-evolving electric mobility story, announcing plans for a 50:50 joint venture focused on key vehicle electrification technologies.
The proposed venture, expected to begin operations by mid-2026 subject to regulatory approvals, will focus on engineering, manufacturing and sales of eAxle systems and electric motors. Headquartered in Pune, it aims to bring global technology closer to the local market at a time when India’s automotive sector is shifting gears towards electrification.
For Bosch Group India president and Bosch Limited managing director Guruprasad Mudlapur, the direction is clear. He noted that battery electric technology is central to reducing emissions across passenger vehicles and select commercial segments, adding that the partnership is designed to accelerate adoption through advanced and efficient solutions.
The collaboration reflects a broader shift in the mobility landscape, where global expertise is increasingly being localised. Bosch Limited joint managing director and Mobility Solutions India president Sandeep Nelamangala, pointed out that customers are seeking cutting-edge global technologies tailored for India, a demand this venture aims to meet.
From Tata AutoComp’s perspective, the partnership brings complementary strengths to the table. Tata AutoComp vice chairman Arvind Goel, highlighted that India’s mobility ecosystem is being reshaped by electrification, localisation and the need for scalable solutions, making such collaborations increasingly vital.
Bosch’s global commitment to e-mobility is already significant, with investments exceeding six billion euros. Robert Bosch GmbH executive vice president, manufacturing and quality, electrified motion Karsten Müller, said the venture will help bring these technologies to India while strengthening the company’s regional presence.
With India now the world’s third-largest automotive market, the timing of the partnership is notable. As the country accelerates towards cleaner mobility, this joint venture positions both companies to ride the electric wave, combining engineering muscle with market ambition.
