MAM
Madhuri Dixit joins Oral B for Smile India Movement II
NEW DELHI: Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit has joined Oral B Smile India Movement as the chief smile officer to promote a mission to ‘Protect a Billion Indian Smiles, One at a time‘ with the help of 10,000 dentists across the country.
The mission was launched Tuesday from the Maulana Azad Medical College here, heralding the cause of protecting the Indian smile. The Oral B Smile Survey conducted by independent researcher AC Nielsen amongst 803 consumers and 201 dentists in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bengaluru states that as many as 89 per cent respondents in Delhi, 65 per cent in Bengaluru, 25 per cent in Kolkata and 19 per cent in Mumbai feel that India as a nation smiles less than other countries. A majority of 76 per cent of dentists notice that patients with poor oral hygiene tend to smile less.
Dixit said, “I have always believed that we Indians have such warm smiles – something I missed fervently when I was in the US. It was disheartening to learn from the Oral B Smile survey that Indians feel they are smiling less, and the poor state of oral hygiene could be one of the reasons. I decided to join hands with Oral B and 10,000 dentists across the country to protect billion Indian smiles, one at a time. As I pledge my support to the movement, I urge everyone to pledge their support too and take a step towards more healthy, confident smiles.”
The survey covered people‘s behaviour at the workplace, with their spouses; people have been equally vocal regarding their connotations of smile at their work place and when trying to please their spouses.
Oral B spokesperson Varun Sharma said, “The survey conducted with AC Nielsen clearly points at the need for better oral hygiene among Indians! Through the Oral B- Smile India Movement this year, we hope to build from Smile India Movement‘s success last year, and help protect a billion Indian smiles, one at a time.”
“We are encouraged by the support we have received from 10,000 dentists across India and now Chief Smile Officer- Madhuri Dixit who, for most of us, represents the quintessential healthy, confident smile. The aim is to protect Indian smiles by urging people across India to come forward and pledge their support to this movement,” Sharma added.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
