Brands
Thermocool turns up the heat with ‘Raid 2’ partnership starring Ajay Devgn across India
MUMBAI: This summer, it’s not just temperatures soaring-so is Thermocool’s brand game. Thermocool Home Appliances has teamed up with the upcoming Hindi cinema thriller Raid 2 in a star-powered collaboration featuring Ajay Devgn, aiming to blitz every screen and street corner across India.
Produced by T-Series and Panorama Studios, Raid 2 brings themes of courage and justice—values Thermocool claims to bottle into every appliance it sells.
“We are thrilled to be associated with Raid 2—a film that talks about courage, integrity, and doing the right thing. These are values that we at Thermocool highly admire and mirror in our products and brand philosophy”, said Thermocool Home Appliances Ltd director sales & marketing Tanuj Gupta.
The campaign is already firing on all cylinders—television ads, Youtube streams, social media blitzes, and giant hoardings have flooded tier one and tier two cities, making sure no thermostat-owning human misses the memo.
Gupta further noted, “This partnership also showcases our changing marketing strategy, which is centred around high-recall partnerships and more meaningful audience interaction”.
In-cinema branding, curated contests, and digital content are fuelling Thermocool’s ambitions to lock into the hearts (and homes) of India’s families, especially as the heatwave encourages shoppers to rethink their cooling solutions.
Devgn’s no-nonsense screen presence dovetails neatly with Thermocool’s promise of robust, value-based home products. With Raid 2 expected to have a wide national reach, the brand is banking on more than just box office success—it’s aiming for serious emotional connect and deeper market penetration.
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.
