Brands
Aman Gupta launches new venture OffBeat Studios
Boat co-founder steps into fresh entrepreneurial chapter after shifting to non-executive role.
MUMBAI: Aman Gupta just flipped the beat because when you’ve already made waves with Boat, the next move is to start a whole new rhythm.
boAt co-founder Aman Gupta has unveiled his new entrepreneurial venture, OffBeat Studios, marking his first independent project since stepping away from day-to-day operations at the audio and wearables brand. In a post on X on 3 March 2026, Gupta wrote: “With every birthday, some grow older, I grow bolder. I am still hungry, still impatient and still driven. Aman 2.0 begins soon. Introducing my new venture. @Offbeatstudios1.”
Details about OffBeat Studios remain scarce. Gupta has shared only a stylised “OFF/BEAT” logo and no specifics on the business model, sector focus, funding, team or launch timeline. It is unclear whether the venture will operate independently or hold any strategic link to Boat.
Gupta played a pivotal role in building boAt’s brand and marketing identity since its inception and gained wider visibility as a judge on Shark Tank India. His shift to a non-executive board position followed a leadership transition at Boat last year, Gaurav Nayyar was appointed CEO, while co-founder Sameer Mehta took on the role of executive director focused on strategy, reflecting a move toward professionalised management.
The announcement arrives as Boat’s parent company, Imagine Marketing, gears up for its initial public offering. The Warburg Pincus-backed firm received SEBI approval after confidentially filing in April 2025 and is reportedly targeting a valuation of around Rs 13,000 crore. This marks Boat’s second IPO attempt, the first, filed in January 2022 for Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 900 crore fresh issue + Rs 1,100 crore offer for sale), was withdrawn amid market volatility.
Boat has not commented on whether Gupta’s new venture will impact the upcoming public issue. For a founder who helped turn Boat into a youth-favourite audio brand, OffBeat Studios signals not a slowdown, but a bold new track proving that when one rhythm fades, another is already waiting to drop.
Brands
Beardo unveils new film for Godfather fragrance
Danish Pandor leads cinematic campaign spotlighting power and comeback narrative.
MUMBAI: Power doesn’t always shout sometimes, it just walks back in and takes its seat. Beardo has rolled out a new campaign film for its flagship Godfather fragrance, bringing a cinematic lens to one of its most recognisable products. The film stars Danish Pandor, fresh off his portrayal of Uzair Baloch, and leans into a narrative built on quiet authority, tension, and a long-anticipated return.
Set in an abandoned den with an unclaimed throne, the film unfolds through whispers and restrained drama, culminating in a reveal that favours presence over proclamation. The storytelling mirrors the positioning of the Godfather fragrance itself, an enduring bestseller in the men’s grooming category, known for its bold, woody-spicy profile and appeal across age groups.
Rather than opting for a traditional feature-led approach, the brand leans into mood and mythology. Pandor’s performance anchors the film’s central idea of an anti-hero reclaiming control, aligning with the fragrance’s identity as a symbol of dominance and self-assured masculinity.
Conceptualised by Beardo’s in-house team, the campaign has been released across Instagram and Youtube, reflecting a broader shift towards content that blurs the line between advertising and entertainment particularly for digital-first audiences.
The fragrance itself blends mint, lemon, geranium, vetiver, and musk, designed to be long-lasting and versatile. But the campaign makes it clear: this isn’t just about scent notes, it’s about signalling presence.
In a category crowded with claims, Beardo’s latest play doesn’t try to be louder. It simply leans into the idea that the real ‘OG’ doesn’t announce itself, it’s felt.
