Brands
JioStar ropes in Nidhi Maheshwari as senior brand manager
MUMBAI: JioStar has appointed Nidhi Maheshwari as senior brand manager for brand marketing strategy at JioHotstar, following the recent transition of Disney+ Hotstar operations to JioStar in India.
Maheshwari, who moved to JioStar in December 2024, has been instrumental in the platform’s relaunch strategy. In her previous role at Disney+ Hotstar, she served as senior marketing manager for content marketing, where she led several successful campaigns including the award-winning launch of The Night Manager which achieved record awareness scores with optimised marketing spend. The campaign secured gold at the 2023 Promax Asia awards.
Her experience includes launching streaming platforms in India, having previously led Lionsgate Play’s market entry in December 2020. Her career spans roles at major consumer brands including Parle Agro, where she managed the Appy Fizz portfolio and key partnerships including Bigg Boss, and Unilever’s Lakmé division, where she handled fashion week marketing and strategic alliances.
In her current role, Maheshwari is spearheading JioHotstar’s brand expansion initiatives across entertainment, sports, and regional content segments as the platform establishes itself under new ownership.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
