Brands
Samantha Prabhu’s Saaki eyes a growth of 80% revenue in the next 6 months
Mumbai: Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Sushruthi Krishna’s D2C ethnic wear brand Saaki aims to scale its revenues by 80 per cent in the next six months on the back of a growth strategy that includes category expansion and improving brand visibility through a consumer-centric approach.
The brand, which will generate two-digit crores in revenue this fiscal year, sees its customers as the primary drivers of its growth.Since its launch in 2020, it has always taken its customers’ feedback and suggestions seriously. This consumer-centric approach has enabled the brand to grow exponentially in the last two years, with 70 per cent of business generated organically from its much-loved community.
40-50 per cent of the brand’s sales are driven from metro and tier I cities, while the remaining are from tier II and III cities, where the adoption of online shopping is happening at an accelerated pace. Saaki entered the international market in 2021 and currently ships to 15 countries, including the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. With 25 per cent of the total revenue generated from international business, Saaki is on the road to strengthening their presence in the global market.
The brand will soon expand into yoga wear and home categories. Saaki is rapidly expanding its distribution channels and plans to become a Rs 150 to Rs 200 crore brand in the next three years.
Speaking about the future growth plans, Saaki co-founder Krishna said, “Saaki is totally built on consumer love and confidence, and we hope to reach the 100 crore club soon with their support. Our current focus is to expand our product line and ramp up our digital and social media presence. We aim to invest in customer-centricity to allow for optimal journey mapping, repeat business, and loyalty interventions.”
Popular south Indian actor and Saaki co-founder Prabhu commented, “It’s phenomenal to witness Saaki’s growth in the last few months despite my absence—all credits go to Sushruthi and the team. Looking forward to actively participating in Saaki’s growth journey in the times to come.”
Apart from the brand website, Saaki is available on the top 4 marketplaces: Myntra, Nykaa Fashion, Flipkart, and Amazon.
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.
