MAM
Nissin and Chhota Bheem team up for new masala noodles
Popular children’s character enters instant noodles category with fun digital twist.
MUMBAI: Chhota Bheem is about to make snack time even more heroic this time, with a bowl of noodles. Green Gold Animation, the creator of India’s beloved animated character Chhota Bheem, has partnered with Indo Nissin Foods to launch “Nissin Chhota Bheem Masala Noodles”. The new kid-friendly variant combines Nissin’s trusted taste with a mild masala flavour tailored for young consumers.
Each pack includes a QR code that unlocks the “Nissin Funtastic Playzone”, an interactive digital platform offering up to 15 Chhota Bheem-themed mobile games. The games are designed to provide short, engaging, and responsible play experiences, extending the Chhota Bheem universe beyond the screen.
India’s instant noodles market is estimated to be valued at nearly Rs 10,000 crore in 2025, growing at close to 10 per cent year-on-year, with the highly affordable segment accounting for nearly 85 per cent of the total market. The new product enters this competitive space with a focus on strengthening appeal among children and family households. It will be available across general trade and modern retail outlets nationwide.
Green Gold Animation founder & CEO Rajiv Chilaka said, “Our collaboration with Indo Nissin Foods is a meaningful step in expanding the Chhota Bheem universe into everyday consumer spaces. By combining Nissin’s product strength and retail reach with our storytelling expertise, we are creating an experience that goes beyond the screen.”
Indo Nissin Foods chief marketing officer Daisuke Okabayashi added, “With the launch of ‘Nissin Chhota Bheem Masala Noodles’, we are uniting the incredible appeal of Chhota Bheem with the great taste and trust of Nissin for kids. The addition of the Nissin Funtastic Playzone further elevates the experience through engaging and responsible play.”
This partnership marks a strategic brand extension for Green Gold Animation, moving Chhota Bheem deeper into daily family consumption habits while reinforcing its position as a multi-format Indian IP with long-term relevance.
In the highly competitive noodles aisle, Chhota Bheem is bringing his signature energy and courage this time, to help little ones enjoy a fun, tasty, and playful snack. The hero of Indian animation is now ready to conquer lunchboxes across the country.
Brands
Wipro hires 7,500 freshers, withholds FY27 hiring outlook
Profit rises to Rs 3,522 crore, Rs 15,000 crore buyback announced.
MUMBAI- Hiring may be on, but visibility is off, Wipro is adding talent even as it pauses the crystal ball. The company hired 7,500 freshers in FY26 but stopped short of offering any hiring outlook for FY27, underscoring the uncertainty gripping the IT services sector as it pivots towards an AI-led operating model.
The disclosure came alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, where management flagged volatile demand conditions and refrained from committing to future workforce expansion. Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil noted that over 3,000 of the total hires were onboarded in the March quarter alone, signalling continued intake despite a lack of clarity on deployment pipelines.
This divergence active hiring without forward guidance reflects a broader industry pattern where talent acquisition continues even as deal conversions remain uneven and client spending cycles stretch. Wipro expects its IT services revenue for the June quarter to range between a decline of 2 per cent and flat growth sequentially in constant currency terms, reinforcing near-term caution.
Chief executive officer Srini Pallia pointed to artificial intelligence as both a disruptor and an opportunity. He said evolving client priorities are pushing the company towards outcome-driven engagements, with Wipro increasingly focusing on a services-as-software model through its AI Native Business and Platforms unit. The shift marks a structural change from traditional headcount-led growth to AI-enabled delivery frameworks.
The company has already committed over $1 billion to its AI ecosystem, with investors closely watching how these investments translate into revenue. For now, the numbers present a mixed picture. Net profit rose sequentially to Rs 3,522 crore, while revenue grew 3 per cent to Rs 24,236 crore. However, core IT services performance remained under pressure, with full-year revenue declining 0.3 per cent in dollar terms and 1.6 per cent in constant currency.
Large deal bookings offered a counterpoint, rising 45.4 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, highlighting a widening gap between deal wins and actual revenue realisation. On a quarterly basis, IT services revenue slipped 1.2 per cent sequentially, signalling continued softness in execution.
Margins, however, told a more optimistic story. Operating margins expanded to 17.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting improved cost discipline. That said, the company cautioned that upcoming wage hikes and the ramp-up of large deals could exert pressure going forward.
Attrition stood at 13.8 per cent in the March quarter, indicating stabilisation after periods of elevated churn. Alongside its earnings, Wipro also announced a Rs 15,000 crore share buyback, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns, with a payout ratio of 88 per cent over the past three years.
Taken together, the numbers capture a company in transition investing in AI, maintaining hiring momentum, but navigating a demand environment where growth is uneven and visibility remains limited.
