MAM
HT goes full Thalaivar as Rajinikanth headlines a century-old front page
MUMBAI: Some stars earn headlines, Rajinikanth becomes the headline. In a landmark media moment, Hindustan Times and OTTplay transformed the newspaper’s iconic front page into ‘Rajinikanth Times’, a full-blown tribute celebrating the superstar’s 50-year cinematic reign, created in partnership with Amazon Prime Video.
For the first time in HT’s 100-year history, the newspaper surrendered its entire front page to a single individual, a gesture reserved for a phenomenon who long ago crossed the border between actor and mythology. The masthead was reimagined, the visual language revamped, and the familiar seriousness of the broadsheet replaced with a bold salute to the man whose on-screen swagger has shaped pop culture for half a century.
The celebration didn’t stop at print. The HT Media network carried the homage across platforms, with Fever FM bringing the tribute alive on radio looping fans, listeners and lifelong Thalaivar devotees into a rare, multi-platform cultural crescendo that merged nostalgia with modern storytelling.
At the heart of the initiative is OTTplay, India’s leading OTT aggregation platform, which offers 30 plus OTT services in a single subscription powered by an AI-driven discovery engine. For millions of fans, it becomes the one-stop streaming gateway to Rajinikanth’s vast universe from evergreen classics like Baasha, Muthu and Thalapathi to contemporary blockbusters such as Kabali, Kaala, Petta, Jailer, Vettaiyan and Coolie.
Whether the titles sit on Sun NXT, Amazon Prime Video or JioHotstar, OTTplay curates every era of Rajinikanth in one place, a digital temple for the Thalaivar faithful.
“Every generation finds its own Rajinikanth, a hero, a philosopher, a symbol of courage,” said OTTplay CEO & co-founder Avinash Mudaliar. “Celebrating his 50 years in cinema with a front-page tribute is our way of honouring a legacy that shaped not just films, but the very way we dream. Through OTTplay, we hope to make every chapter of his journey accessible to fans old and new.”
This extraordinary front-page takeover blending print innovation, digital reach and radio amplification doubles as a reminder of how storytelling evolves, and how some icons remain timeless through every medium.
In the end, Hindustan Times didn’t just honour Rajinikanth. It bowed as an entire nation often does to a superstar who continues to redefine what stardom looks like, sounds like, and feels like.
Brands
Jubilant Foodworks to end Dunkin’ franchise in India
Pizza chain operator will not renew agreement when it expires at end of 2026.
MUMBAI: When the doughnuts stop turning and the coffee goes cold, even a global giant like Dunkin’ can find the Indian market a tough brew to crack. Jubilant Foodworks has decided not to renew its franchise agreement with Dunkin’ when the pact expires on 31 December 2026, according to a Reuters report. The operator, best known for running Domino’s outlets in India, said it would evaluate options for its existing Dunkin’ stores, including a potential sale or transfer of franchise rights, in consultation with the US-based brand.
The decision follows years of underperformance in a market where local tastes and intense competition have made it difficult for international coffee-and-doughnut formats to gain traction. Jubilant, which has increasingly focused on its core pizza business and newer bets like Popeyes, indicated that the exit would not materially affect its financial or operational position.
Dunkin’ accounted for just 0.61 per cent of Jubilant’s revenue in the fiscal year ending 2025 and recorded a loss of approximately Rs 191 million, according to a regulatory filing. The company operated 27 outlets as of December 2025, having shuttered seven stores over the preceding year.
The retreat comes even as Jubilant’s broader business shows signs of momentum. The company reported a 65 per cent rise in quarterly profit for the October to December period, reaching Rs 70.9 crore, up from Rs 42.91 crore a year earlier.
For Jubilant, the exit reflects a sharpening strategic focus. For Dunkin’, it marks another setback in a market that has proven resistant to imported café concepts without significant localisation.
In the cut-throat world of Indian quick-service restaurants, sometimes the sweetest deals are the ones you quietly walk away from leaving more room for the brands that truly rise to the occasion.
