MAM
Famous Innovations appoints Ferzad Variyava as group creative director
Mumbai: Famous Innovations has appointed two of senior level talents, Manish Ajgaonkar as senior creative director and Ferzad Variyava as group creative director, to head its creative team.
With close to 18 years of experience in his kitty, Manish Ajgaonkar brings onboard his finely honed creative acumen after working with India’s top creative agencies like HTA, Publicis Ambience, Saatchi and Saatchi, Contract and Interface FCB to name a few. His work has been recognized in local and international award festivals and he has also been on the jury of Goafest for Design and Out-of-home categories.
On his appointment Manish says, “With the changing needs of advertisers nowadays, I feel there are very few agencies that are actually changing their creative product and thinking to match. Famous has been one such agency that has rapidly grown over the years and has developed a strong creative culture.”
Ferzad Variyava brings his 15 years of experience with prestigious agencies like the DDB Mudra Group, Publicis Ambience, Alok Nanda & Company and JWT. He has had the good fortune of helming teams on marquee brands like Volkswagen, Renault, Twitter, Thomas Cook, Tata Housing and Lodha Builders to name a few. His list of accolades spans both local and international award festivals over the years.
Variyava candidly shares, “I have had the privilege of working with some of the most talented minds in my past agencies and I am now looking forward to working with Raj who I have always considered one of the most progressive people in the industry. I equally look forward to partnering Manish whose craft I have always admired. To me, an electric place like Famous is fertile ground to develop more inventive solutions for a newer, bolder breed of clients.”
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.
