Brands
Indigo Paints brushes off slowdown with steady Q1 despite muted demand
MUMBAI: Even a splash of rain couldn’t wash away Indigo Paints’ colours this quarter though the palette did lose some of its shine. For the quarter ended 30 June 2025, the company’s standalone net revenue from operations inched up 0.3 per cent year-on-year to Rs 94.9 crore, despite muted industry demand. Consolidated revenue, however, dipped 0.7 per cent to Rs 308.9 crore, with management citing early monsoons as a key drag.
Margins showed signs of wear. Standalone gross margin slipped to 46.1 per cent from 47.0 per cent a year earlier, while EBITDA margin narrowed to 14.8 per cent from 15.6 per cent, largely due to higher fixed costs and slower scale-up. PAT margin held nearly flat at 8.8 per cent, with net profit easing just 0.4 per cent to Rs 26.4 crore.
On a consolidated basis, gross margin stood at 45.9 per cent, EBITDA margin at 14.3 per cent, and PAT margin at 8.3 per cent. Net profit fell 2.2 per cent year-on-year to Rs 26.1 crore, while EBITDA excluding other income dropped 6.5 per cent to Rs 44.3 crore.
The results suggest that while the paint maker Indigo Paints is holding its hue in a subdued market, it will need a stronger coat of demand in the coming quarters to restore the gloss.
Brands
JioHotstar EVP, head subscriptions (SVOD) and media Piyush Kothari exits
Streaming executive signs off after 6.5-year run across DisneyStar and JioStar
MUMBAI: Piyush Kothari, EVP and head subscriptions (SVOD) and media at JioHotstar, has stepped down from his role, bringing the curtain down on a 6.5-year stint spanning the DisneyStar and JioStar eras.
Kothari shared the update in a note reflecting on what he called a “transformative” phase for the media industry and a personal journey through the fast-evolving world of streaming and sports entertainment.
“The last few years have been transformative for the media industry and experiencing this journey up close over the past 6.5 years with DisneyStar and now JioStar has been a thriller,” he wrote, thanking colleagues and collaborators who shaped his time in the business.
Kothari joined JioHotstar in November 2024 as EVP, head subscriptions (svod) and media, where he oversaw subscription revenues and subscriber growth for the platform’s svod business.
Before that, he spent over five years at The Walt Disney Company in a series of leadership roles. His last position there was head of product, growth, partnerships and international expansion for Disney+ Hotstar, where he led efforts to scale subscription revenues across direct to consumer and partnership channels. The role also involved overseeing the service’s standalone businesses in markets such as Singapore, Canada and the UK.
Earlier, he served as lead, corporate office and strategic projects, working across the company’s entertainment, sports and streaming businesses. He also headed business operations at Mashal Sports, the entity behind the Pro Kabaddi League, where he helped steer the league through key commercial milestones including a five year broadcast and streaming media rights deal.
Alongside his operational roles, Kothari also served as nominee director on the board of Mashal Sports and was a director on the board of Novi Digital, the company that operates Hotstar.
Before entering the media and entertainment space, Kothari held senior roles across consulting, fintech and conglomerates. He worked with Welspun Group as head, group executive office, with Aditya Birla Group as joint president and business head, digital, analytics and strategy at Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank, and earlier served as vice president in the chairman’s office at the group.
His career also includes stints at Accenture as principal, Accenture Strategy, and earlier at Shell in channel development and sales.
Reflecting on his time in the media sector, Kothari said he leaves with a lasting belief in India’s subscription economy. He also joked about picking up a new affection along the way.
“Carrying with me love for kabaddi, a deep belief in the potential of the subscriptions business in India, and fond memories and friendships,” he wrote, adding that he is now “onward to the next chapter”.
