MAM
Madhuri Dixit can’t stop humming and dancing to the Oral B jingle
MUMBAI: Known for her enigmatic and charming smile, Madhuri Dixit, the brand ambassador and Chief Smile Officer of Oral-B kick started the fourth edition of Smile India Movementby shooting for a dance videoat a mall in Mumbai. This is the first time that a Bollywood celebrity hasparticipated in a flash mob-styled performance. Shoppers were absolutely thrilled to witness the surprise star act. The jingle, sung by the National award winning playback singer Rekha Bhardwaj andchoreographed by the multi-talented Ganesh Hegde, captures the essence of how a‘bindassbateesi’ is the key to a beautiful life!
Themesmerizingdance moves of Madhuri not only brought smiles on faces, young and old, but also got them to forget their worries and join in the foot tapping number.The performance created astir among the audience and the mall reverberated with the cheering and applauding by the crowd while the enthusiastic Madhuriinteracted with audiences by encouraging them to match hersteps and her signature smile.
The passion with which the crowd reacted to the dance break out was overwhelming to witness. Everyone from youngsters tomothers, store staff to police inspectors dropped their personal errands and enjoyed the spectacle. Spectators got a glimpse of the fun side of Madhuri, who kept interacting with the dancers and joking around with the crew.
The catchy jingle, which is one of the key highlights of the video, truly caught her fancy. Madhuri couldn’t stop humming the melodyevenduring the breaks between shots. The jingle aimsto spread the message that a family which smiles together is truly a reflection of a happy and healthy family.
Commenting on her association with Oral-B Smile India Movement 4, Chief Smile OfficerMadhuri Dixit said, “I loved the overall experience of dancing with the crowd. Ittook me back to the memories of dancing on various pop numbers. In fact my dressing was very similar to what I wore for the Que Sera Sera video. The enthusiasm of the dancers and the crowd, kept all our energy levels high. It was a great experience to be shooting with friends and fans all around me, watching them enjoy it and bringing a smile to their faces. The Oral–B Jingle is so upbeat that even my children love itand hum it and then we all break into the signature step. I am truly proud to be associated with the Oral-B Smile India Movement 4 and encourage people to take better care of their family’s smile and ultimately their overall oral health. “
As India’s Chief Family Smile Officer, Madhuri believes a family that smiles together, stays together! So celebrate your family’s smile with the jingle through the link appended below –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWRsW7RpvZ8
MAM
Paramount set to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in $81 billion deal
Shareholders back merger, combined entity could reshape streaming and studios.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… consolidation, Hollywood’s latest blockbuster might be happening off-screen. Shareholders of Warner Bros. Discovery have voted in favour of selling the company to Paramount in a deal valued at $81 billion rising to nearly $111 billion including debt setting the stage for one of the biggest shake-ups in modern media. The proposed merger, still subject to regulatory approvals, would bring together a vast portfolio spanning HBO Max, CNN, and franchises such as Harry Potter under the same umbrella as Paramount’s own heavyweights, including Top Gun and CBS.
At the heart of the deal is streaming scale. Executives have indicated plans to combine HBO Max and Paramount+ into a single platform, potentially creating a stronger challenger to giants like Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Video. Current market data suggests HBO Max holds around 12 per cent of US on-demand subscriptions, compared to Paramount+’s 3 per cent, together still trailing Netflix’s 19 per cent and Disney’s combined 27 per cent via Disney+ and Hulu.
Paramount CEO David Ellison has signalled that while platforms may merge, HBO’s creative identity will remain intact, stating the brand should “stay HBO” even within a broader ecosystem.
Beyond streaming, the deal would redraw the map for film production. Combining two of Hollywood’s oldest studios Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros., the new entity aims to scale output to over 30 films annually, while maintaining a 45-day theatrical window. Warner Bros. currently commands around 21 per cent of the US box office, compared to Paramount’s 6 per cent, underscoring the strategic weight of the acquisition.
But scale comes with scrutiny. Critics warn that fewer players could mean reduced consumer choice, rising subscription costs, and potential job cuts as the combined company looks to streamline overlapping operations while managing billions in debt.
The news business, too, faces a reset. CNN would join forces at least structurally with Paramount-owned CBS, raising questions about editorial independence and positioning. The merger has already drawn political attention in the United States, particularly given perceived ties between the Ellison family and Donald Trump, though the company maintains that newsroom autonomy will be preserved.
If approved, the deal would mark another milestone in Hollywood’s consolidation wave shrinking the industry’s traditional “big six” studios to a “big four”, with Paramount joining Disney, Universal, and Sony at the top table.
In an industry built on storytelling, this merger may well become its most consequential plot twist yet.
