Brands
Gujarat names Uday Kotak chairman of Gift city
Veteran banker replaces Hasmukh Adhia amid renewed push for offshore finance
GUJARAT: The Gujarat government has appointed veteran banker Uday Kotak as chairman of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, commonly known as Gift City, replacing former bureaucrat Hasmukh Adhia.
The appointment comes as Gift City sharpens its push to attract global capital with liberalised tax and regulatory norms, positioning itself as a rival to financial centres such as Singapore and Dubai.
Earlier this month, the Centre doubled the tax holiday for entities setting up operations in Gift City to 20 years, a move aimed at accelerating offshore banking, fund management and capital market activity within the zone.
Uday Kotak brings more than four decades of experience in India’s financial sector to the role. He is the founder and former managing director and chief executive of Kotak Mahindra Bank, which he established in 1985 as a modest bill-discounting business. Over time, the firm evolved into a diversified financial services group, spanning banking, capital markets, asset management and insurance. In 2003, it made history by becoming the first non-banking financial company in India to convert into a commercial bank. Kotak currently serves as a non-executive director on the bank’s board.
Kotak’s career is widely seen as one of the most notable entrepreneurial success stories in India’s financial services industry. In the early 1990s, Kotak Finance expanded into auto loans, investment banking and stockbroking, riding the momentum of India’s economic liberalisation in 1991. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Kotak did not hail from a prominent business family nor did he have the backing of deep-pocketed institutional investors, making the firm’s early expansion particularly arduous.
Brands
Malaika Arora launches Maejoy accessories brand with Myntra partnership
New label debuts with 250 plus handbags and lab grown diamond jewellery.
MUMBAI: When style meets sparkle, a new brand is ready to take centre stage. Actor and entrepreneur Malaika Arora has launched a lifestyle accessories label called Maejoy, developed in collaboration with Exceed Entertainment and Myntra Jabong India Private Limited (MJIPL), the B2B wholesale arm of Myntra. The brand enters the market with a debut collection of more than 250 styles spanning handbags and lab grown diamond jewellery, two categories that continue to define everyday personal style for modern consumers.
The handbag lineup includes crossbody bags, structured shoulder bags, bucket bags, totes, backpacks, clutches and workwear inspired designs. The pieces are crafted using materials such as synthetic leather, raffia, braids, satin, rhinestones and metallic finishes.
Alongside the bags, Maejoy has introduced a jewellery range featuring lab grown diamond rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets and tennis bracelets. The pieces are set in 925 sterling silver bases with gold, silver and rose gold tones, and include diamonds certified by IGI and GCI.
Positioned as a premium yet accessible accessories label, Maejoy is built around the philosophy “The Joy of Being Me”, aiming to blend aspirational fashion with everyday usability. The brand’s positioning centres on three pillars: authenticity, empowerment and accessibility.
Arora described the venture as a natural extension of her long association with fashion and personal style.
“Maejoy is a labour of love. Throughout my career, whether on screen, in business or through personal style, I have always believed fashion should feel empowering yet effortless. The Joy of Being Me celebrates individuality while making global fashion trends more accessible,” she said.
MJIPL, CXO and head of house of brands Suman Saha said the brand brings together Arora’s style perspective with a strong opportunity in the accessible premium accessories segment.
“Maejoy combines Malaika Arora’s distinctive style sensibility with fashion forward designs that we believe will resonate strongly with consumers looking for elevated yet wearable accessories,” he said.
Exceed Entertainment CEO Afsar Zaidi added that building celebrity led brands requires balancing authenticity with market viability.
“Malaika commands respect both as a fashion icon and a businesswoman. Bringing her creative vision together with Myntra’s brand building expertise creates a strong foundation for Maejoy,” he said.
The collection is available exclusively on Myntra through its website and mobile app, making the brand accessible to millions of shoppers across India as it steps into the competitive lifestyle accessories space.
