MAM
Weekend Unwind with: Unmisha Bhatt co-founder & chief strategy officer of Tonic Worldwide
MUMBAI: Another weekend is upon us, and so is the time to unwind with yet another edition of IndianTelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind – A series of informal chats that peek into the mind of a corporate executive to get to know the person behind the title a little better.
In this week’s session, we have Tonic Worldwide co-founder & chief strategy officer Unmisha Bhatt opening up the windows to her mind and heart, to offer a glimpse of what’s behind her professional persona.
A marcom professional with over 20 years of experience in developing brand communication & strategies across consumer touch points, she leads strategy on all brands and enables new markets & global expansion as chief strategy officer of Tonic Worldwide. A founding member of the agency’s Dubai office for the Middle East region, and a key driving force for her team across both markets, she divides her time between Dubai and India. Her goal is to bring out the best in her team members, while setting new benchmarks & supporting them with mentorship and support as required. From the last couple of years, Unmisha has also been guest faculty for management students and conducts several training & development workshops to build young talent.
So here goes:
– Your mantra for life
Live and Let live.
-A Book you are currently reading/plan to read
Loads of them. I have this habit of reading many books at one time. Keep jumping to my mood. Current ones that are ongoing are ‘Radical Candor’, ‘Everybody Lies’. Also, Archie comics! They are fun and take me back in time. Then there’s my all-time favourite which I keep re-reading all the time, ‘One + One = 3’. The ones on my lists are “No Rules Rules”, “Pandeymonium” and some fiction mystery novels. They help me switch off.
-Your Fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
There’s no better way to be fit then house work! The lockdown taught me that
-Your comfort food
Home-cooked food made by my mother-in-law. She’s the best chef ever. She can give every Michelin star chef a run for their money.
-When the chips are down a quote/ philosophy that keeps you going?
Count your blessings
-Your guilty pleasure
Vadapav, beer & end a cocktail evening with Chai. Lol yes, odd but that’s me.
-When was the last time you tried something new?
December 2019, jumped into the sea and swam to the shore of an island where the boat couldn’t hit the shore, in Maldives. Was a fun experience. Been long time since I tried something new yet again.
-A life lesson you learnt the hard way
All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy (in this case Jill)
What gets you excited about life?
Travel, meeting, new people, and exploring different cultures in different countries
What’s on top of your bucket list?
Guest lectures in an international management college. Teaching is the best form of learning, and international teaching will help me learn about different cultures too
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Spend more time with parents.
An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times
Gratitude and keeping busy at work. I love what I do. I love my brands. I am very competitive and that keeps me motivated to do better.
What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
For me it’s “who” lifts my spirits: My best friend, my partner-in-crime at work, my husband, Chetan Asher
Your go-to stress buster
Binge-watch any thriller series on OTTs or binge-read fiction. Helps me switch off and transport to another world.
One thing you would most like to change about the world
Call for peace. Live and let live.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
