MAM
Vamsi Murthy wraps up his Disney+ Hotstar journey
MUMBAI: Call it a season finale worth bingeing. After an unforgettable four-season run, Vamsi Murthy has announced his exit from Disney+ Hotstar, wrapping up a chapter that reads like a streaming hit, complete with plot twists, high stakes and creative cliffhangers.
As executive director and marketing head, Murthy helped script some of Hotstar’s most successful campaigns, cementing its reputation as India’s home of entertainment and sport. From building massive originals like Aarya, Criminal Justice, Special Ops and Taaza Khabar, to steering cricket fever through World Cups, his marketing playbook turned content into cultural conversations.
Under his leadership, the platform revamped its entertainment marketing model, driving growth across brand love, viewership and subscriptions. The results showed improved ROI, award wins at Promax Asia, Kyoorius and Indian Telly Streaming Awards, and a brand that consistently set the tone for pop culture moments.
Before Hotstar, Murthy’s career reel rolled through BookMyShow, ZEE5, Myntra, MakeMyTrip and Reliance Communications, marking a two-decade journey across India’s biggest consumer brands.
Signing off, Murthy called his time at Hotstar “nothing short of a blockbuster,” thanking colleagues and mentors who made the ride special. As for what’s next, he’s keeping the suspense alive, promising a new chapter soon. Because in true entertainment style, every great show deserves a thrilling sequel.
Brands
International Women’s Day ’26: The rise of self-purchased jewellery among working women
By Trisha Paul, head of merchandising, Kisna
MUMBAI: You know that feeling when you buy something with your own money for the first time? Not the first time ever, but the first time with money you actually earned, for something entirely, unambiguously yours.
Fine jewellery has always been given. At weddings, at festivals, at milestones on someone else’s timeline. What is changing is that a growing number of women are buying it for themselves, to mark moments they defined. The question is no longer whether to do it. It is how to do it well.
For women in the early years of a career, a first piece can cost well under Rs. 1 lakh. Many cost a fraction of that. What matters is choosing for your life, your wardrobe, and the milestone you are marking. The woman buying for herself today wants something that works with her life every day, not just for a special occasion. She is thinking about longevity, about versatility, about what still feels right in five years. That shift has changed the entire conversation around what accessible fine jewellery needs to be.
The First Step: Daily Dainty Diamond Neckwear
The right first piece isn’t the most expensive one you can afford. It’s the one you’ll actually wear. A delicate diamond pendant or a fine diamond necklace in 9KT, 14KT, or 18KT gold hits that sweet spot: understated enough to feel effortless, special enough to feel like you.
You’ll reach for it on Monday mornings and Friday nights without a second thought. It works with almost everything in your wardrobe, and over time, it becomes less of a purchase and more of a constant, something that quietly holds both meaning and value.
A Reliable Classic: Diamond Studs That Hold Value
A pair of well-sourced diamond studs in 18KT or 14KT gold is as close to a guaranteed wearable asset as fine jewellery gets. Round brilliant cuts hold their appeal longer than more fashionable styles and resist the ageing effects of trend. Look for independent grading documentation when you buy. The difference it makes to what a piece is worth at exchange is significant, and it is a straightforward thing to ask any reputable retailer for.
Building a Collection That Marks Your Milestones
For women who would rather accumulate meaning incrementally, stackable rings are the most satisfying category. A plain gold band for the first salary. A diamond-set ring for the first promotion. Another for the move or the launch. Each band is its own modest commitment. Together they become a record, worn on your hand, of everything you have done.
Starting Small: Savings Plans and Digital Gold
Not every first purchase needs to be immediate. If you prefer a value-driven approach, begin with a jewellery savings plan from a credible retailer. These plans typically allow you to set aside a fixed monthly amount for 10 months, with the retailer contributing an equivalent 11th month that can be redeemed toward a diamond jewellery purchase. For those who would rather build value gradually and with greater flexibility, digital gold offers another route. It allows you to accumulate gold in small increments online and redeem it against physical jewellery when you are ready. The habit of building towards something is often more valuable than the thing itself.
The Bigger Picture
Fine jewellery in India has always told stories. For a long time, those stories were written by someone else. The piece you buy with your first salary is a story you are writing yourself. It does not need to be expensive to be meaningful. It needs to be right for your life, and bought because you decided it was time.
