Brands
Chhota Bheem leaps from screen to snack bar
HYDERABAD: India’s most popular animated character is hoping to strike gold by jumping off the telly and into the kitchen. Green Gold Animation, creator of Chhota Bheem, has partnered with EBG Group to launch India’s first Chhota Bheem-themed cafes—a Rs 200 crore bet that children’s entertainment can translate into family dining gold.
The first two outlets will open in Hyderabad’s Hitech City by December 2025, with an ambitious rollout of 50 cafes planned for 2026 and 300 across India thereafter. The venture could eventually expand globally, say the partners.
The cafes will come in two formats: a compact 25 x 40 ft express model and a larger 50 x 40 ft full-scale version. Franchise partners will stump up the capital whilst EBG manages operations, branding and training under a company-owned, company-operated model. The expansion is expected to create over 250 jobs, from chefs to merchandising staff.
Far from being mere eateries, these venues promise interactive play zones, storytelling corners, licensed merchandise and activities featuring Chhota Bheem, Chutki, Mighty Raju and other characters from Green Gold’s stable. The aim is to create what the partners call a “360-degree family entertainment ecosystem” where dining meets play.
Green Gold Animation founder & chief executive Rajiv Chilaka said: “Over the last 17 years, Chhota Bheem has grown beyond being just an animated character to becoming a cultural phenomenon loved by millions of children and families across India and beyond. This partnership allows us to extend this universe into a unique, real-world experience.”
Added EBG group founder & chief executive Irfan Khan: “This is not just about food, but about creating joyful experiences that families will cherish.”
Green Gold Animation, founded in 2001, has produced over 30,000 minutes of content across television, film and digital platforms. Its shows reach viewers in more than 100 countries through partnerships with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Warner Bros Discovery. EBG Group is a multi-sector conglomerate spanning mobility, health, property, lifestyle, food, services, technology and education.
Brands
IndiGo names William Walsh CEO
Former IATA chief to take charge in August after Elbers exit, Bhatia steers interim
India’s biggest airline has moved fast and gone global. InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, has tapped aviation heavyweight William Walsh as chief executive officer, subject to regulatory approvals, marking a sharp pivot as the carrier eyes its next burst of expansion.
Walsh, currently director general at the International Air Transport Association, will step down on July 31, 2026, and is expected to take charge by August 3. The appointment comes barely three weeks after Pieter Elbers exited the corner office, with Rahul Bhatia holding the fort in the interim.
The choice signals intent. Walsh brings decades of cockpit-to-boardroom experience, having led British Airways and later International Airlines Group, the parent of Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling. His tenure across carriers has been defined by hard resets, restructurings and cross-border consolidation—skills IndiGo may need as competition intensifies and scale becomes decisive.
Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman and non-executive independent director of IndiGo, said Walsh’s experience in managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics makes him well-suited to lead IndiGo in an increasingly competitive global aviation environment, adding that the appointment marks a new chapter as the airline scales in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
Rahul Bhatia said Walsh’s global perspective, operational expertise and customer-focused approach would be critical as IndiGo enters its next phase of expansion.
Walsh, widely regarded as one of the industry’s most influential figures, will oversee overall management and strategic direction, with a mandate spanning operational performance, network expansion, commercial strategy and customer experience. He is expected to work closely with the board and leadership team to sharpen IndiGo’s growth trajectory.
Walsh said IndiGo has a strong foundation and is well-positioned to capitalise on the evolving aviation landscape, adding that he looks forward to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation and sustainable value creation across the organisation.
A new captain, a bigger runway—and a market that rewards scale. IndiGo is lining up for its next take-off.
