MAM
Dentsu turns up the volume with India’s first agency-led podcast network
MUMBAI: Mic check, India branded storytelling just got a whole new sound. Dentsu India has launched the Dentsu Podcast Network (DPN), a dedicated vertical set to make podcasts the next big stage for brands to converse, connect, and create communities across Bharat.
Podcasts are no longer just background noise. With over 650 plus shows, 100 plus brands, and 120 plus creators already under their belts, the trio of Aditya Kuber, Agith Kuruvilla, and Ashwin Gangakhedkar now vice presidents at dentsu are bringing their podcasting prowess from Ideabrew Studios into the global agency ecosystem. Their experience spans seven languages, from chart-topping Hindi originals to fast-growing regional formats, making them uniquely placed to amplify dentsu’s branded content play.
Reporting to Dentsu Creative Isobar CEO Sahil Shah, the new team will collaborate across dentsu’s media, creative, and CXM businesses to push the boundaries of branded audio. “Podcasts are no longer a niche; they are the most immersive and authentic way to connect with audiences,” said Shah, adding that DPN will help brands “tap into India’s cultural pulse” like never before.
With India’s diverse subcultures and rising appetite for vernacular content, the opportunity is huge. As Dentsu Creative & Media Brands South Asia CEO Amit Wadhwa put it, “This is more than a media launch; it is a bold step towards shaping narratives that travel from the heart of Bharat to audiences across the globe.”
In the months ahead, DPN will roll out original branded series, vernacular-first IPs, large-scale creator collaborations, video podcasts, and immersive storytelling innovations. The goal: to ensure every dentu client can harness the intimacy of podcasts and the diversity of Indian languages to build deeper, more meaningful brand affinity.
For India’s podcasting scene already one of the world’s fastest growing, this could well be the big leap from playlists to power plays, with dentsu tuning brands into conversations that echo far beyond the metros.
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.
