Brands
Bold move Arshdeep joins boldfit in pace perfect brand play
MUMBAI: He bowls fast and now, he’s making fitness moves just as bold. India’s speedster Arshdeep Singh has officially joined Boldfit as a brand athlete, bringing fresh firepower to the fitness gear company’s athlete-first vision. The collaboration isn’t just another star-studded endorsement, it’s a stride towards making Boldfit a brand truly built by athletes, for athletes.
The 25-year-old pacer, known for his toe-crushing yorkers and chilled-out charisma, was revealed as the newest face of Boldfit in a cheeky social media campaign that mirrored a locker room chat with KL Rahul, Boldfit’s first investor and long-time brand face. The rollout, heavy on Gen Z energy and casual flex, saw Arshdeep sporting Boldfit merch and fans were instantly bowled over.
Arshdeep Singh, speaking about the partnership said, “I have always believed in doing things with full power, on and off the field. Boldfit gets that vibe. It’s not just good looking gear, it’s made for how athletes actually train, recover and live. Really excited to build this.”
Boldfit founder Pallav Bihani shared his vision, “We started Boldfit to create a brand rooted in real athletic journeys. KL Rahul gave us that foundation. With Arshdeep coming on board, we’re doubling down on our mission to make Boldfit an athlete-first, performance-led brand. We are excited to co-create products with Arshdeep, tailored for the Indian fitness consumer.”
KL Rahul, cricketer and also an investor in Boldfit added, “Boldfit has always been about more than merch or gear. It’s about creating something from within the sports ecosystem. Seeing Arshdeep come on board is a proud moment the movement is only getting bolder.”
The Chandigarh-born cricketer joins Boldfit at a time when it’s already one of India’s fastest-growing fitness brands, riding the wave of a Rs 7,000 crore plus sports and wellness industry. With athletes like Arshdeep on board, the brand is moving beyond protein shakers and joggers aiming to rewrite what Indian fitness looks like from the inside out.
And with that, Boldfit isn’t just selling lifestyle, it’s helping script one. One pacer, one product, one power move at a time.
Brands
JioHotstar EVP, head subscriptions (SVOD) and media Piyush Kothari exits
Streaming executive signs off after 6.5-year run across DisneyStar and JioStar
MUMBAI: Piyush Kothari, EVP and head subscriptions (SVOD) and media at JioHotstar, has stepped down from his role, bringing the curtain down on a 6.5-year stint spanning the DisneyStar and JioStar eras.
Kothari shared the update in a note reflecting on what he called a “transformative” phase for the media industry and a personal journey through the fast-evolving world of streaming and sports entertainment.
“The last few years have been transformative for the media industry and experiencing this journey up close over the past 6.5 years with DisneyStar and now JioStar has been a thriller,” he wrote, thanking colleagues and collaborators who shaped his time in the business.
Kothari joined JioHotstar in November 2024 as EVP, head subscriptions (svod) and media, where he oversaw subscription revenues and subscriber growth for the platform’s svod business.
Before that, he spent over five years at The Walt Disney Company in a series of leadership roles. His last position there was head of product, growth, partnerships and international expansion for Disney+ Hotstar, where he led efforts to scale subscription revenues across direct to consumer and partnership channels. The role also involved overseeing the service’s standalone businesses in markets such as Singapore, Canada and the UK.
Earlier, he served as lead, corporate office and strategic projects, working across the company’s entertainment, sports and streaming businesses. He also headed business operations at Mashal Sports, the entity behind the Pro Kabaddi League, where he helped steer the league through key commercial milestones including a five year broadcast and streaming media rights deal.
Alongside his operational roles, Kothari also served as nominee director on the board of Mashal Sports and was a director on the board of Novi Digital, the company that operates Hotstar.
Before entering the media and entertainment space, Kothari held senior roles across consulting, fintech and conglomerates. He worked with Welspun Group as head, group executive office, with Aditya Birla Group as joint president and business head, digital, analytics and strategy at Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank, and earlier served as vice president in the chairman’s office at the group.
His career also includes stints at Accenture as principal, Accenture Strategy, and earlier at Shell in channel development and sales.
Reflecting on his time in the media sector, Kothari said he leaves with a lasting belief in India’s subscription economy. He also joked about picking up a new affection along the way.
“Carrying with me love for kabaddi, a deep belief in the potential of the subscriptions business in India, and fond memories and friendships,” he wrote, adding that he is now “onward to the next chapter”.
