Brands
Deepika Padukone to endorse ‘Melange by Lifestyle’
NEW DELHI: Deepika Padukone, who is gradually making a niche in television commercials with her lively style, has been picked up as the brand ambassador by Lifestyle International for its Ethnic Wear Brand – Melange.
Padukone will be the face of the brand going forward and will be featured in a new brand campaign scheduled to rollout in April across outdoors, print, digital and in-store reaching out to the primary audience of the brand which is 18 to 32 years old urban female.
According to a Lifestyle spokesperson, Melange by Lifestyle has been growing at a phenomenal rate and is today a Rs 100 crore brand. Melange by Lifestyle has a presence across 40 Lifestyle stores and six exclusive stores.
Landmark Group MD Kabir Lumba said “Melange by Lifestyle has grown at a phenomenal pace and has emerged as one of the most beloved ethnic wear brands in the country. We are happy to announce Deepika Padukone as our brand ambassador as she perfectly embodies the values that the brand stands for. We feel this initiative will help us further widen our appeal amongst our target audience”.
Padukone added: “Melange by Lifestyle has an amazing range of Salwar, Kurtas & Chudidars. The most amazing part about it is that it is ethnic yet so contemporary. I think it is perfect for Modern Indian Woman”.
Brands
Bajaj Consumer Care FY26 profit rises to Rs 193.7 crore
Revenue climbs to Rs 1,092 crore as profit grows 49 per cent YoY
MUMBAI: Hair today, growth tomorrow Bajaj Consumer Care Limited seems to have found its shine again, posting a sharp jump in profitability even as it doubled down on brand spends and expansion. The company reported a net profit of Rs 193.7 crore for FY26, marking a strong 49 per cent rise from Rs 130.1 crore in FY25. Revenue from operations also grew to Rs 1,092.2 crore, up from Rs 942.8 crore a year earlier, signalling steady demand momentum across its portfolio.
For the March quarter, profit stood at Rs 64.1 crore, compared to Rs 31.5 crore in the corresponding period last year, while revenue rose to Rs 308.3 crore from Rs 243.5 crore.
The performance came despite a notable increase in spending. Advertising and sales promotion expenses climbed to Rs 168.3 crore in FY26, up from Rs 137.8 crore in FY25, reflecting continued investment in brand building. Other expenses also rose to Rs 151.3 crore from Rs 134.2 crore, indicating a broader push towards growth.
Operating efficiency, however, held firm. Profit before tax increased to Rs 234.8 crore in FY26 from Rs 157.7 crore a year earlier, supported by disciplined cost management across materials and inventory.
On the balance sheet, the company’s total assets expanded to Rs 959.1 crore as of March 31, 2026, compared to Rs 931.9 crore a year earlier. Other equity rose to Rs 780.3 crore, reinforcing a stronger financial base.
Cash flow from operations saw a significant uptick, reaching Rs 196.9 crore in FY26, nearly three times the Rs 67.9 crore recorded in FY25, highlighting improved working capital management.
However, the year also saw aggressive capital allocation. The company spent Rs 190.2 crore on share buybacks, contributing to a net cash outflow of Rs 196.5 crore from financing activities. Cash and cash equivalents stood at Rs 6.8 crore at the end of the year, down from Rs 25.6 crore.
Even as investments in subsidiaries and assets continued, the numbers suggest a company balancing growth ambitions with shareholder returns keeping one eye on expansion and the other on efficiency.
With margins improving and revenue steadily climbing, Bajaj Consumer Care appears to be combing through the competition with renewed confidence.
