Brands
Shah Rukh Khan powers Castrol’s 3X Protection campaign
MUMBAI: Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan returns to the screen in a high-octane new campaign for Castrol Activ’s 3X Protection, where he plays a tough cop navigating the searing heat of Rajasthan in pursuit of criminals. In the ad, SRK’s bike, powered by Castrol Activ, continues to perform flawlessly without overheating, while the criminals’ bike stalls during a dramatic chase.
Khan stated, “The heat can be relentless, whether you’re chasing criminals or battling real-life traffic. Castrol Activ’s 3X protection ensures engines stay cool and the bike keeps moving. It’s been a pleasure collaborating with Castrol on this campaign.”
Castrol India vice president & head of marketing, Rohit Talwar stated, “Overheating is a common issue for bikers, especially in India’s harsh summers. This campaign highlights Castrol Activ’s promise of superior engine protection, while connecting with riders facing the challenges of long, hot commutes.”
The TVC, conceptualised by Ogilvy India, blends action-packed drama with the brand’s core message of engine protection. It will debut during the Champions Trophy final and will run across digital, print, and outdoor platforms in 10 languages.
Ogilvy India chief creative officer, Sukesh Nayak stated, “With Shah Rukh Khan’s magnetic presence, we’ve created an ad that is as thrilling as an action film while communicating the product’s key benefit—superior engine protection.”
The campaign also features social media activations and influencer partnerships. The new Castrol Activ is now available at retail outlets and online across India.
Brands
UK’s OnlyFans seeks US investor at $3bn valuation after owner’s death
The adult video platform is seeking stability after the death of its billionaire owner
LONDON: OnlyFans is looking for a new partner. The London-based adult video platform is in advanced talks to sell a minority stake of less than 20 per cent to Architect Capital, a San Francisco-based investment firm, in a deal that would value the business at more than $3bn (£2.2bn).
The move is driven by an urgent need for stability. Leonid Radvinsky, the Ukrainian-American billionaire who owned OnlyFans, died of cancer last month at the age of 43, leaving the future of one of Britain’s most profitable privately held businesses suddenly uncertain.
The choice of Architect Capital is not arbitrary. The firm has deep expertise in financial services, which aligns neatly with OnlyFans’ ambitions to offer banking products to its creators, many of whom have long struggled to access basic financial services because of the nature of their work.
The numbers behind OnlyFans are, by any measure, staggering. The platform posted revenues of $1.4bn in the year to 30th November 2024, with a pre-tax profit of $684m, up four per cent on the prior year. Payments to creators totalled $7.2bn over the same period, a rise of nearly ten per cent. Radvinsky personally collected $701m in dividends from the business in 2024 alone, on top of more than $1bn in such payments he had already received. The platform, run through its parent company Felix International, hosts 4.6m creator accounts, with performers keeping 80 per cent of subscription proceeds and the platform pocketing the remaining 20 per cent. It has 377m fan accounts in total.
The current minority stake talks represent a notable scaling back of ambitions. In January, OnlyFans was reported to be in discussions with Architect about selling a majority stake of 60 per cent. Before that, the company had explored a sale to a consortium led by Forest Road Company, a Los Angeles-based investment firm. Neither deal materialised.
OnlyFans has built an enormously lucrative business on content that mainstream finance has long refused to touch. Now, with its owner gone and a $3bn valuation on the table, it is looking for the kind of respectable institutional backing that might finally persuade the banks to take its calls.
