MAM
VidUnit rolls out candid new talk show with Rashami Desai
MUMBAI: VidUnit has stepped into the long-form arena with a move that blends star power, storytelling and serious digital ambition. The influencer-first platform has unveiled its first original series, fronted by television favourite Rashami Desai, as it expands from short-burst creator content to full-fledged digital IPs.
The new show, Rashami Ke Dil Se Dil Tak, brings an unscripted and unfiltered flavour to YouTube, leaning into heartfelt conversations and the kind of emotional honesty the internet rarely gets without gloss. Rashami welcomes celebrity couples into an intimate setup where they talk about love, work, health, family and the unsaid bits of life behind the cameras.
It marks Rashami’s first major outing in digital-first long-format storytelling. The show blends warmth with whimsy, switching between tender exchanges and playful compatibility challenges that keep the mood light while uncovering the messy, magic-filled layers of modern relationships.
The opening slate features some of television’s most adored couples including Dipika Kakar Ibrahim and Shoaib Ibrahim, Gauahar Khan and Zaid Darbar, Surbhi Chandna and Karan Sharma, Claudia Ciesla and Arjun Goel, and Neha Bhasin and Sameer Uddin.
Rashami said the concept is deeply personal to her and that VidUnit felt like the right home because the platform understands the pulse of digital audiences. She added that she wanted a space where stories could be shared without judgement or filters and thanked founder Sourabh Kumar and his team for backing her vision.
Sourabh Kumar described the project as the start of VidUnit’s broader plan to build high-impact digital properties rooted in authentic storytelling. He said signing Rashami as its exclusive YouTube talent gives the platform a powerful connection with the Hindi-speaking market and added that the company is building a wider slate of IPs across genres and formats as part of its next growth chapter.
Rashami Ke Dil Se Dil Tak will stream on YouTube soon, promising viewers a front-row seat to candid conversations and the chemistry that keeps these relationships humming.
Brands
Kwality Wall’s reports standalone losses following strategic HUL demerger
Ice cream major faces Rs 64 crore Ebitda loss amid commodity inflation and muted Q3 sales
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited (KWIL) has released its first set of financial results as a standalone entity, revealing a challenging start to its independent journey. Following its successful demerger from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on 1st December 2025 and its subsequent listing on 16th February 2026, the company is navigating a transition period marked by structural changes and high input costs.
For the quarter ended 31st December 2025, the company reported revenue of Rs 222 crores. Despite the revenue base, the bottom line was impacted by several factors, resulting in an Ebitda loss of Rs 64.2 crores. When calculated on a Pre-IND AS 116 basis, the Ebitda loss stood at Rs 83.8 crores.
Organic Sales Growth (OSG) declined by 6.5 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. Volume growth, however, saw a marginal increase of 1.2 per cent. The company reported a gross margin of 41.5 per cent. Additionally, exceptional expenses amounting to Rs 94 crores were recorded, primarily linked to non-recurring costs during the transition phase.
Performance across portfolios and channels was mixed. Within the impulse portfolio, brands such as Magnum and Cornetto recorded mid-single digit volume growth, indicating steady demand in on-the-go consumption. However, the in-home portfolio, which includes take-home packs, experienced muted consumption. The company is planning a relaunch of this category with improved offerings ahead of the 2026 season.
Quick commerce (Q-Com) continued to emerge as a strong growth driver, delivering robust double-digit growth during the quarter. Meanwhile, the company also expanded its physical distribution network by increasing the number of company-owned cabinets across markets.
Margin pressure during the quarter was driven by a combination of one-off factors and broader cost inflation. Gross margins were impacted by around 600 basis points due to trade investments made for stock liquidation. Additionally, cocoa price inflation contributed to another 400 basis points of pressure on margins.
Deputy managing director Chitrank Goel attributed the muted performance partly to prolonged monsoons and transitional challenges linked to the GST framework. Operating expenses also increased as the company invested in establishing its standalone supply chain, operational systems and corporate infrastructure following the demerger.
Looking ahead, the management remains focused on a volume-driven growth strategy. To restore profitability, the company has initiated a cost productivity programme aimed at reducing non-consumer-facing costs. It is also working on building regional manufacturing networks to optimise logistics expenses and improve operational efficiency.
The commodity outlook for the near term remains mixed. Dairy prices are expected to remain firm due to tight supply conditions and rising fodder costs. Sugar prices may also move higher following increases in the Minimum Selling Price (MSP). While cocoa prices have moderated recently, currency depreciation has offset some of the potential cost relief for the company.
