Brands
Asian Paints launches Aks-e-Kashmir edition to honour Kashmir’s artistic legacy
MUMBAI: In a celebration of Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage, Asian Paints has launched a special festive edition of its Apex Ultima Weatherproof pack, aptly named ‘Aks-e-Kashmir’. The pack, released just in time for Eid, encapsulates the beauty and tradition of Kashmir, blending art with cutting-edge performance.
The ‘Aks-e-Kashmir’ pack beautifully showcases the iconic symbols of the valley, such as the tranquil shikaras of Dal Lake, the vibrant tulip gardens, intricate pashmina embroidery, and the region’s renowned botanical gardens. It also features elements of Kashmir’s rich history, including the famous kahwa vessels, mughal baari, and the delicate saffron flowers. Every detail of the design pays homage to the valley’s artistic legacy, drawing inspiration from its traditional textiles and detailed woodwork.
“Kashmir is more than a place it’s a feeling, alive in its stories, colours, and traditions that reflect resilience, beauty, and heritage,” said Asian Paints MD & CEO Amit Syngle. “With the Apex Ultima ‘Aks-e-Kashmir’ special edition pack, we are not only celebrating the region’s culture and craftsmanship, but also honouring the spirit of its people, their perseverance, and the legacy they continue to build.”
The ‘Aks-e-Kashmir’ edition is a fusion of artistic elegance and the superior weatherproof protection Apex Ultima is known for. The paint has been engineered to withstand India’s extreme weather conditions, ensuring that homes remain beautiful and durable.
“Apex Ultima is engineered to shield homes from India’s extreme weather conditions ensuring that every home’s beauty and durability is maintained, “Syngle continued. “By bringing together strong performance with the artistic essence of Kashmir, this special edition pack captures the unique blend of strength and elegance that defines the valley’s cultural spirit.”
Through this special edition, Asian Paints continues its tradition of celebrating India’s diverse heritage with limited-edition packs. With ‘Aks-e-Kashmir’, the brand not only offers protection but also shares the enduring beauty of Kashmir’s stories and craftsmanship.
Watch the ‘Aks-e-Kashmir’ video here,
Brands
Ujjwal Jain steps down from PhonePe’s Share.Market to start new chapter
Founder behind WealthDesk and OpenQ exits after decade-long fintech journey
BENGALURU: Ujjwal Jain, the entrepreneur behind platforms such as WealthDesk and OpenQ, has stepped down from his role as chief executive of Share.Market, the investing platform backed by PhonePe, marking the end of a decade-long journey in India’s capital markets space.
In a reflective note, Jain described his journey from launching WealthDesk in 2016 to building a broader ecosystem that eventually became part of PhonePe. Over the years, his ventures focused on bringing data-driven investing tools and model portfolios closer to retail investors, a space that has seen rapid evolution alongside the rise of discount broking.
WealthDesk introduced curated “WealthBaskets” to simplify portfolio investing, while OpenQ expanded access to quantitative research and analytics. Both platforms were later acquired by PhonePe, forming the backbone of Share.Market, which Jain helped scale as a mass-market investing product.
Calling the experience “brutal” yet deeply fulfilling, Jain credited colleagues, investors and industry partners for shaping the journey, highlighting the role of the PhonePe team in building Share.Market into a large-scale platform.
His exit comes at a time when artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape financial services globally. Jain indicated that his next move will focus on this shift, hinting at a renewed push into the intersection of AI and capital markets.
Prior to his entrepreneurial stint, Jain worked with MSCI Inc. on index products and technology, and with D. E. Shaw India Financial Services in algorithmic trading and high-frequency systems.
While he has not disclosed specifics of his next venture, Jain framed the move not as a departure but a reset, signalling that his next chapter will aim to tackle even larger challenges in India’s evolving investment landscape.
With one chapter closed and another underway, the focus now shifts to what Jain builds next in an increasingly AI-first financial world.
