Brands
Mumbai to host AniMela 2026, featuring global animation and XR
MUMBAI: Mumbai will host AniMela 2026, an international festival dedicated to animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and extended reality, from February 19 to 22 at Whistling Woods International.
Positioned as a cross-disciplinary platform, the four-day event will bring together creators, studios, students and industry leaders through curated screenings, immersive showcases and industry-led programmes reflecting the convergence of storytelling and technology.
A major draw this year will be screenings of Oscar-nominated animated films, including feature titles Arco and Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, alongside shortlisted shorts Forever Green and The Girl Who Cried Pearls.
The festival will also mark the India debut of large-scale immersive experiences Titanic LBVR and Colosseum LBVR, allowing audiences to explore historical moments through extended reality environments.
AniMela artistic director and co-founder Anne Doshi , said the festival celebrates creative risk, experimentation and the drive to tell stories across emerging media formats.
Whistling Woods International vice president and business head, chief technology officer and head of emerging media Chaitanya Chinchlikar, said hosting AniMela aligned with the institute’s focus on nurturing young talent and building creative communities.
The 2026 edition is being guided by an international advisory board drawn from the global animation and immersive media space, including Mickaël Marin of the Annecy Festival and Mifa, Munjal Shroff, Arjun Madhavan, executive producer Ashima Avasthi Chaudhuri, Aneta Ozorek and filmmaker Kiran Rao.
Brands
Nykaa eyes majority stake in Deepika Padukone’s 82°E brand
Deal could help scale premium label as Nykaa sharpens its beauty play
MUMBAI: Nykaa is in advanced discussions to acquire a majority stake in 82°E, the premium skincare label founded by Deepika Padukone, according to media reports.
The proposed deal signals Nykaa’s intent to deepen its House of Nykaa portfolio while giving 82°E the scale it has struggled to achieve independently. Padukone is expected to retain a minority stake if the transaction goes through.
For Nykaa, the play is both strategic and timely. With a customer base of over 42 million, the company is betting on its strong distribution, logistics, and repeat purchase ecosystem to revive the brand’s momentum. The two sides already share a working relationship, with Padukone serving as Nykaa’s global brand ambassador since September 2025.
Launched in late 2022, 82°E entered the market with a premium positioning but has faced headwinds. The brand reported revenue of Rs 14.7 crore in FY25, down 30 per cent year on year, alongside losses of Rs 12.26 crore. Industry observers have pointed to steep pricing, a somewhat diffused brand identity, and intense competition from digital-first labels as key challenges.
The potential acquisition also reflects a broader shift in India’s beauty and lifestyle space, where celebrity-led brands are increasingly partnering with larger corporates to unlock scale. Alia Bhatt’s Ed-a-Mamma, for instance, sold a majority stake to Reliance Retail, while Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty has emerged as a standout success within Nykaa’s portfolio, clocking Rs 132.4 crore in FY25 revenue.
Nykaa itself has been on a strong growth trajectory. Its parent, FSN E-Commerce Ventures, reported a 156 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 68 crore in the December 2025 quarter, with revenue reaching Rs 2,873 crore.
Nykaa has been steadily building its portfolio through acquisitions such as Dot & Key, Earth Rhythm and Nudge Wellness, signalling a clear push to own and scale homegrown brands.
If the 82°E deal materialises, it could mark a fresh chapter for the label, blending celebrity appeal with corporate muscle. For Nykaa, it is another calculated step in staying ahead in an increasingly crowded beauty aisle.
