MAM
Zinta hits at ‘Barbarian’ eve teasers on her BBC column
In her second column for bbcnews.com leading Bollywood star Priety Zinta has hit out at 'eve teasing'. Detailing her own experiences of sexual harassment she wonders why women in Indian are still not safe to walk the streets of their own cities.
And she asks why more isn't being done to protect them from the 'everyday villians' who sometimes act like 'barbarians'.
In her column on bbcnews.com/southasia, Zinta has opined on how it feels like to be a women in India. Zinta said, "I don't feel safe on the streets, neither do a lot of women in India. It is because of a phenomenon we in India call 'eve teasing'. It sounds rather biblical and innocent but 'eve teasing' could range from catcalls to sexual assault of women."
Zinta has also spoken about her theory around dealing with eveteasing. "In life I have a "one tight slap" theory. It means if anyone makes me uncomfortable or treats me like a piece of meat then they get a dose of my theory."
About the role played by the Indian media and cinema, Zinta says, "For one,I think it has to do with a sex explosion in our media. There's too much of smut on prime time television. It's all about men imitating all the dangerously sexist images of women that our media spits out day and night. I daresay that some of today's cinema is also to blame."
Zinta joined the BBC as a columnist in March this year.
Brands
Jubilant Foodworks to end Dunkin’ franchise in India
Pizza chain operator will not renew agreement when it expires at end of 2026.
MUMBAI: When the doughnuts stop turning and the coffee goes cold, even a global giant like Dunkin’ can find the Indian market a tough brew to crack. Jubilant Foodworks has decided not to renew its franchise agreement with Dunkin’ when the pact expires on 31 December 2026, according to a Reuters report. The operator, best known for running Domino’s outlets in India, said it would evaluate options for its existing Dunkin’ stores, including a potential sale or transfer of franchise rights, in consultation with the US-based brand.
The decision follows years of underperformance in a market where local tastes and intense competition have made it difficult for international coffee-and-doughnut formats to gain traction. Jubilant, which has increasingly focused on its core pizza business and newer bets like Popeyes, indicated that the exit would not materially affect its financial or operational position.
Dunkin’ accounted for just 0.61 per cent of Jubilant’s revenue in the fiscal year ending 2025 and recorded a loss of approximately Rs 191 million, according to a regulatory filing. The company operated 27 outlets as of December 2025, having shuttered seven stores over the preceding year.
The retreat comes even as Jubilant’s broader business shows signs of momentum. The company reported a 65 per cent rise in quarterly profit for the October to December period, reaching Rs 70.9 crore, up from Rs 42.91 crore a year earlier.
For Jubilant, the exit reflects a sharpening strategic focus. For Dunkin’, it marks another setback in a market that has proven resistant to imported café concepts without significant localisation.
In the cut-throat world of Indian quick-service restaurants, sometimes the sweetest deals are the ones you quietly walk away from leaving more room for the brands that truly rise to the occasion.
