Brands
Guwahati Comic Con debuts with colour, cosplay and crowds
MUMBAI: The inaugural Guwahati Comic Con closed on a high after pulling more than 15000 fans into a lively celebration of comics, anime, gaming and all things pop culture. Held on 22 and 23 November at the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex, the event turned the venue into a buzzing playground for readers, creators, illustrators and costumed superfans from across the Northeast.
Presented by Maruti Suzuki Arena and powered by Crunchyroll, the festival kept the energy steady across both days. Day two brought a nostalgic highlight as Amar Chitra Katha marked 45 years of storytelling, celebrating its enduring cultural footprint. The day also featured the launch of World of Butterfingers Vol. 2 by Khyrunnisa A and Abhijeet Kini, along with the debut of Where We Left Off, an indie comic about climate reality by Nikhil Kamath and Kini. An interactive Wingstar session from Tinkle gave younger visitors a cheerful break.
Legendary Archie Comics artist Bill Golliher joined fans for an artists’ session filled with live sketches, behind the scenes stories and charming anecdotes from the world of Riverdale.
Beyond the books and art, the festival doubled as a youth centric stage for music and performance. Once Fly Rock delivered a heartfelt tribute to Zubeen Garg that struck a chord with the crowd. Stand up comedian Anirban Dasgupta kept fans laughing while rapper EPR Iyer fired up the arena with his blend of poetry, protest and pop culture references. His tribute to Chester Bennington added an emotional punch to the high voltage set.
The curtain dropped with Guwahati’s biggest cosplay face off, the Indian Championship of Cosplay 2026 Guwahati Qualifier. Fans arrived dressed as characters from every corner of fandom including Red Hood, Deadpool, Zenitsu from Demon Slayer, Amane Misa from Death Note, Mao Mao from The Apothecary Diaries, Anya from Spy Family and gaming favourites such as Aglaea from Honkai Star Rail and Capitano from Genshin Impact. Arshy Deori, dressed as Nikke, won the top prize of Rs 50000 along with the coveted qualifying spot.
Across the weekend, the grounds of the sports complex transformed into a carnival of experiences featuring creator sessions, interactive zones and photo friendly setups. Visitors explored the Crunchyroll booth with its recreated Spy x Family room and Demon Slayer themed zone, raced simulators at Logitech’s Race for Real corner, tried classic PSP games and tested their reflexes at the Maruti Suzuki Arena activation. The RedBull Gaming Ground and Nodwin Gaming Challenger Arena kept gamers busy, and a tattoo stall even offered fans the chance to ink a memory from the event.
The final day delighted gaming followers with a meet and greet by Sc0ut, the popular gaming YouTuber, at the Royal Challenge packaged drinking water booth. Fans also tried an immersive VR cricket experience at the same zone.
As the Guwahati edition wrapped up, the excitement rolled forward to the next stop: Delhi Comic Con from 5 to 7 December.
Comic Con India CEO Shefali Johnson said the Guwahati debut was filled with warmth and wonder, noting how fans, artists and families shaped a memorable first chapter for the city.
Nodwin Gaming co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee called the edition a milestone for the region, adding that the enthusiasm from fans of all ages showed how deeply pop culture already runs through the Northeast.
Brands
Lotus Herbals unveils HydroActivated sunscreen with high-impact campaign
Harnaaz Sandhu fronts digital push spotlighting breakthrough sun care tech
MUMBAI: Lotus Herbals has rolled out a high-decibel marketing campaign to introduce what it calls India’s first hydro-activated sunscreen, aiming to reshape how consumers think about sun protection.
At the centre of the launch is the Safe Sun HydroActivated Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA+++, a formulation built on a patent-pending Hydrosome Technology that activates on contact with moisture. Unlike conventional sunscreens that can weaken with sweat, this product is designed to do the opposite, boosting protection when the skin is exposed to water or perspiration.
The campaign is led by Harnaaz Sandhu and is being amplified across OTT platforms, social media and outdoor locations in key metro cities. The brand film takes a light, relatable approach to everyday sunscreen struggles such as uneven application and fading protection, while positioning the new product as a reliable, high-performance alternative for active lifestyles.
Beyond its core technology, the sunscreen features next-generation UV filters and Edelweiss Flower Extract, offering hydration alongside protection. The formula claims up to 10 hours of water resistance and even, all-round defence against sun exposure and tanning, targeting consumers who want both skincare and performance in one product.
Speaking about the launch, Lotus Herbals chairman and managing director Nitin Passi said, “We are excited to launch India’s first sunscreen with hydroactivated technology which is our most innovative product launch. This isn’t just a sunscreen; it’s a technological breakthrough that utilises a novel manufacturing process. We’ve created a product that stays invisible on the skin yet becomes a performance powerhouse when the user is most active.”
Sharing her experience, Lotus Herbals brand ambassador Harnaaz Sandhu said, “I am thrilled to be associated with Lotus Herbals Safe Sun for their new sun protection campaign. In my world, there is no room for shortcuts, and I need functional and reliable products that work as hard as I do. The hydroactivated sunscreen is a game-changer because it blends with my skin and protects me better when I’m pushing my limits.”
The campaign is being distributed across platforms including JioStar connected TV integrations and ZEE5, along with television placements such as Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in West Bengal. A large influencer push involving over a thousand creators, along with in-store branding and retail activations, is also part of the rollout.
With a blend of science-led positioning and mass-market storytelling, Lotus Herbals is betting on innovation to stand out in the crowded sun care segment, hoping its moisture-powered promise strikes the right chord with today’s always-on consumers.
