MAM
Painted in glory Berger turns 50 years of superstardom into murals
MUMBAI: Some jubilees call for speeches. This one called for a fresh coat of legend. Berger Paints India, in collaboration with Sun TV, has marked a superstar’s 50 glittering years in cinema by trading red carpets for murals, unveiling a sweeping artistic tribute that blends fandom, film history and colour on a monumental scale.
Titled 50 Years of Stardom, the showcase brings together 50 vibrant murals, anchored by a striking 40-foot Master Mural, to celebrate a career that has spanned five decades and multiple generations of moviegoers. From his early screen appearances to his status as a cultural constant, the tribute traces a journey defined by reinvention, mass appeal and enduring relevance.
The centrepiece was unveiled at the VELS Trade & Convention Centre in Chennai, where leading film personalities gathered to reveal a mural that does more than depict iconic moments. Embedded within it are 50 messages sourced from fans across India, each reflecting personal memories, favourite roles and the emotional imprint of a career that has crossed regional and national boundaries.
Alongside the Master Mural, a curated gallery of artworks revisits the superstar’s most memorable on-screen eras, capturing shifts in style, persona and storytelling through bold colours and visual motifs inspired by Tamil Nadu’s cultural fabric.
The project also leans into scale. After its Chennai debut, the murals will travel across Tamil Nadu as part of a “Mural Yatra”, supported by Berger Paints’ retail network. The idea is to take the celebration beyond galleries and venues, bringing it directly into neighbourhoods and public spaces across the state.
The initiative has drawn participation from across Berger Paints’ ecosystem, with more than 2,000 dealers, over 22,000 applicators and 1,000-plus engineers involved in what the company describes as an industry-first effort.
For Berger Paints, which marks 100 years in India, the parallel is deliberate. A century-old brand celebrating a 50-year cinematic journey underscores a shared narrative of longevity, evolution and trust built over time.
As the murals set off on their state-wide journey, the message is clear: some legacies are best remembered not just on screen, but painted large enough for an entire generation to walk past, pause and look up.
Brands
Domino’s Q1 profit falls 6.6 per cent, announces $1 billion buyback
Sales rise 3.4 per cent as pizza giant balances growth and shareholder returns
NEW YORK: Domino’s reported a mixed start to 2026, with first-quarter net income slipping even as global sales and store expansion held steady. The company also announced a fresh $1 billion share buyback, underlining its continued focus on shareholder returns.
Global retail sales rose 3.4 per cent on a constant-currency basis to $4.74 billion. The US remained a key growth engine, with same-store sales inching up 0.9 per cent, supported by a 1.5 per cent rise at company-owned outlets.
International markets, however, painted a more uneven picture. While Domino’s added 161 net new stores overseas during the quarter, international same-store sales declined 0.4 per cent. Overall revenues still climbed 3.5 per cent to $1.15 billion, driven by higher supply chain revenues and a 2.6 per cent increase in food basket pricing for franchisees.
On the profitability front, net income fell 6.6 per cent to $139.8 million, compared to $149.7 million a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share dropped to $4.13 from $4.33. The decline was largely attributed to a $30 million unfavourable swing in unrealised gains linked to its investment in DPC Dash Ltd.
Despite this, operational performance showed resilience. Income from operations rose 9.6 per cent to $230.4 million, supported in part by a $7.8 million pre-tax gain from the sale of a corporate aircraft.
Domino’s footprint continued to expand, with the company ending the quarter at 22,322 stores across more than 90 markets. In the US, digital orders remained dominant, accounting for over 85 per cent of retail sales in 2025.
The company also maintained its dividend payout, declaring $1.99 per share, payable on 30 June 2026. After repurchasing $75.1 million worth of stock during the quarter, the new authorisation lifts the total available for buybacks to $1.29 billion.
Domino’s chief executive officer Russell Weiner said the company’s scale and store-level economics position it well to capture further market share in 2026, even as competition intensifies.
As Domino’s leans into expansion and capital returns, the latest results show a business managing short-term pressures while keeping its long-term growth strategy firmly in play.
