MAM
Yogesh Saini joins WAVES Bazaar as head of marketing and business development
MUMBAI: Yogesh Saini has joined the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) Bazaar, under the National Film Development Corporation (nfdc), as head of marketing and business development, signalling a renewed push to position India’s creative industries on the global stage.
Based in Delhi, Saini will lead marketing, branding and international outreach for WAVES across films, OTT, gaming, animation and the wider AVGC ecosystem. His mandate includes building global partnerships with studios, platforms and broadcasters, scaling B2B markets and roadshows, and strengthening industry engagement through initiatives such as Creatosphere and WavesX.
Saini brings nearly two decades of experience across India’s media and entertainment landscape. Most recently, he was head of marketing at Civic Studios, where he worked on international and Indian film and OTT projects, blended pop culture with social impact storytelling, and integrated AI-led marketing solutions to scale reach and engagement.
Earlier, he headed marketing at The Viral Fever, steering campaigns for breakout shows such as Panchayat, Gullak, Tripling and Pitchers across multiple OTT platforms. Before that, Saini spent close to six years at Fox Star Studios, leading marketing for both Bollywood and Hollywood slates in India and overseas markets, working on franchises including Deadpool, Kung Fu Panda, X-Men and Ice Age.
His career also includes stints at Walt Disney India, Sony DADC and Moser Baer Entertainment, spanning theatrical releases, home entertainment, consumer products and international distribution.
At WAVES Bazaar, Saini is expected to play a central role in aligning government, industry and global stakeholders as India seeks to expand its creative economy footprint worldwide.
New city, new mandate, bigger canvas — and the race to take Indian storytelling global is firmly on.
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.
