Brands
Bharti AXA Life Insurance ropes in Vidya Balan as brand ambassador
Mumbai: Bharti AXA Life Insurance, a joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and AXA insurance on Tuesday announced that it has roped in Bollywood actor Vidya Balan as its brand ambassador.
The National Award-winning actor embodies the core values of Bharti AXA Life Insurance and will help deepen the narrative of #DoTheSmartThing championed by the brand, stated the company.
“Vidya Balan has been a challenger in her field, expressing herself authentically and has always questioned stereotypes,” said Bharti AXA Life Insurance MD and CEO Parag Raja. “She has excelled in bringing compelling and unique narratives to life on screen and is self-made, reliant, and audacious- values that strongly resonate with Bharti AXA Life as a brand. We believe in long-term relationships and are excited to bring Vidya on board to further our goal of broadening life insurance penetration across India.”
Speaking on the association, Vidya Balan said, “Bharti AXA has always been committed to simplifying insurance and empowering Indians to making smarter and savvier financial choices. I am extremely excited to represent the brand and help them further their manifesto of #DoTheSmartThing. It is heartening to see how the company has raised the bar of serving customers and constantly advocates for securing their financial futures. I look forward to the association and kicking off our engagement.”
Bharti AXA Life had announced a new brand purpose last year, which centres on making insurance simple for customers in a complicated world.
“We are excited to bring Vidya on board and look forward to an enriching partnership with her. We believe that our association will help us strengthen awareness around the category and build a more meaningful and purpose-driven connect with our customers,” commented Bharti AXA Life Insurance head of marketing Geetanjali Kothari.
Over the past year, Bharti AXA Life Insurance has made strategic investments in digital platforms to enhance customer experience and facilitate seamless services. The company plans to expand on the back of strategic partnerships and by increasing its distribution footprints across the country.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: 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.
