MAM
Manyavar enters South India with Ram Charan as brand’s face in OOH campaign
Mumbai: GroupM, WPP’s media investment group, has designed and implemented a monumental OOH campaign to mark the entry of leading Indian men’s wedding and occasion-wear brand Manyavar into the South Indian market. With the onset of the wedding season in South India, Manyavar has entered the regional market with the launch of ‘Vivaham’ – whose collection is tailored exclusively for the consumer, consisting of the traditional South Indian attires, Panchakacham and Veshti.
To commemorate this momentous occasion, the men’s festive-wear brand has partnered with GroupM OOH Solutions to unveil a captivating OOH campaign featuring revered global sensation Ram Charan as the brand’s face in the region. Created under the banner #TaiyaarHokarAiye, the campaign features larger-than-life cutouts of the superstar donning Manyavar’s elegant garments in 350+ installations across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with their dimensions reaching an unprecedented 70 feet at multiple locations. Furthermore, in locations such as Hyderabad, multiple consecutive bridge and pillar panels have been assembled and reinforced by GroupM OOH solutions for the brand, to create a steric effect for commuters.
This launch marks a significant milestone for the festive-wear brand, which has been consistently redefining men’s festive fashion in India by skilfully combining tradition and innovation. The ‘Vivaham’ collection symbolizes Manyavar’s commitment to embrace the rich and vibrant heritage of South India, in line with its ethos of inclusivity and diversity.
Vedant Fashions Pvt Ltd. chief revenue officer Vedant Modi said, “The Out of Home campaign has wonderfully captured the charisma, charm, and appeal synonymous with both, the Vivaham collection, as well as Ram Charan’s magnetic personality. It aligns perfectly with Manyavar’s vision of enhancing the modern Indian man’s traditional celebrations with an irreplicable elegance. Ram Charan was the obvious choice for this association, given his confident and compassionate persona – quintessential traits that resonate with the contemporary Indian man. We’re glad to have partnered with GroupM OOH solutions that helped us deliver this campaign successfully.”
Commenting on the launch campaign, GroupM OOH Solutions managing director Ajay Mehta said, “We are thrilled to have executed this stellar campaign for Manyavar and be a partner in its strategic expansion into the South Indian market. The larger-than-life OOH installations, inspired by the uniquely South Indian culture of celebrity exaltation, and coupled with Ram Charan’s star power, enables the brand to authentically embrace a diverse set of audiences in the region, while ensuring awareness and retention for the brand in a fresh market.”
Brands
Wipro hires 7,500 freshers, withholds FY27 hiring outlook
Profit rises to Rs 3,522 crore, Rs 15,000 crore buyback announced.
MUMBAI- Hiring may be on, but visibility is off, Wipro is adding talent even as it pauses the crystal ball. The company hired 7,500 freshers in FY26 but stopped short of offering any hiring outlook for FY27, underscoring the uncertainty gripping the IT services sector as it pivots towards an AI-led operating model.
The disclosure came alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, where management flagged volatile demand conditions and refrained from committing to future workforce expansion. Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil noted that over 3,000 of the total hires were onboarded in the March quarter alone, signalling continued intake despite a lack of clarity on deployment pipelines.
This divergence active hiring without forward guidance reflects a broader industry pattern where talent acquisition continues even as deal conversions remain uneven and client spending cycles stretch. Wipro expects its IT services revenue for the June quarter to range between a decline of 2 per cent and flat growth sequentially in constant currency terms, reinforcing near-term caution.
Chief executive officer Srini Pallia pointed to artificial intelligence as both a disruptor and an opportunity. He said evolving client priorities are pushing the company towards outcome-driven engagements, with Wipro increasingly focusing on a services-as-software model through its AI Native Business and Platforms unit. The shift marks a structural change from traditional headcount-led growth to AI-enabled delivery frameworks.
The company has already committed over $1 billion to its AI ecosystem, with investors closely watching how these investments translate into revenue. For now, the numbers present a mixed picture. Net profit rose sequentially to Rs 3,522 crore, while revenue grew 3 per cent to Rs 24,236 crore. However, core IT services performance remained under pressure, with full-year revenue declining 0.3 per cent in dollar terms and 1.6 per cent in constant currency.
Large deal bookings offered a counterpoint, rising 45.4 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, highlighting a widening gap between deal wins and actual revenue realisation. On a quarterly basis, IT services revenue slipped 1.2 per cent sequentially, signalling continued softness in execution.
Margins, however, told a more optimistic story. Operating margins expanded to 17.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting improved cost discipline. That said, the company cautioned that upcoming wage hikes and the ramp-up of large deals could exert pressure going forward.
Attrition stood at 13.8 per cent in the March quarter, indicating stabilisation after periods of elevated churn. Alongside its earnings, Wipro also announced a Rs 15,000 crore share buyback, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns, with a payout ratio of 88 per cent over the past three years.
Taken together, the numbers capture a company in transition investing in AI, maintaining hiring momentum, but navigating a demand environment where growth is uneven and visibility remains limited.
