Brands
Autistic-friendly ‘Sing’ screening held at PVR
MUMBAI: Vkaao, India’s first-ever ‘theatre-on-demand’ service that enables individuals to choose the films that play in their local theatres, recently celebrated World Autism Awareness Day in a special way.
The platform collaborated with Autism Centre for Excellence (ACE) to conduct a unique sensory-friendly movie screening of the movie ‘Sing’ for individuals with autism and their families. The screening was recently held at PVR Sangam, Delhi, in a safe and comforting environment designed especially to cater to the specific viewing requirements of autistic individuals.
Sounds and lights were paid specific attention to by Vkaao during the screening. Lights were turned up for a better viewing experience, while the sound was turned down to levels more palatable to individuals on the autistic spectrum. This attention to detail was one of the prime reasons for the success of the Vkaao screening; the show was a houseful affair and audience members were seen enjoying the movie to the fullest, singing and dancing throughout the movie.
PVR Pictures CEO Kamal Gianchandani said, “Autism affects more than 10 million people in India but awareness about this unique disorder is very limited. Our aim to associate with ACE to host this special screening of ‘Sing’ was to raise greater awareness about the issue. Witnessing the joy on the faces of people who attended the screening was extremely gratifying. We hope this initiative will help foster a nurturing, supportive environment for individuals on the autistic spectrum in the country.”
A school for autistic children, ACE was conceived with the vision of improving the level and quality of autism-related interventions in India. ACE aims to utilise cutting-edge research and standardised educational practices to improve the outcome for children with moderate-to-severe autism.
Vkaao focuses on leveraging state-of-the-art technology in order to create a social, crowd-sourced movie going experience.
Brands
Devyani International names Sandeep Anand, Robinder Singh in key roles
Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee businesses see leadership refresh from April
MUMBAI: Devyani International has strengthened its senior leadership bench with a fresh set of appointments across its key brands, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee, signalling a sharper focus on growth and brand momentum.
The company has appointed Sandeep Anand as chief marketing officer and business head for Pizza Hut. His appointment, approved by the board via a circular resolution on April 3, follows a recommendation by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, as reported by CNBC-TV18. Anand will officially step into the role on April 6, 2026.
He takes over from Vijay Gogate, who currently serves as chief executive officer for Pizza Hut within the company’s operations. The move marks a strategic transition as the brand looks to sharpen its marketing and business playbook in a competitive quick service restaurant market.
Anand brings over two decades of experience across the food and FMCG sectors, with a strong track record in brand building and innovation. His career spans roles at major consumer-facing companies including Domino’s, Zydus Wellness, Zomato, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Reckitt and Ranbaxy, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both scale and agility.
Alongside this, Robinder Singh has been appointed business head for Costa Coffee and the company’s airport operations. He too will assume his new role on April 6, bringing more than 18 years of experience in operations, business expansion and customer experience transformation.
The twin appointments come at a time when Devyani International is doubling down on leadership depth to steer its portfolio through evolving consumer preferences and heightened competition. With fresh faces at the helm of two key verticals, the company appears set to brew up its next phase of growth with renewed energy.
