iWorld
PepsiCo India to release NFT collection for Pepsi Black with Timea Balo
Mumbai: Soft drink giant Pepsi has announced the launch of its first-ever non-fungible tokens (NFTs) collection for Indian consumers. The NFT collection is an ode to the younger generation, which believes in self-expression and is deeply entrenched in technology.
PepsiCo India Design Team has inked an exclusive partnership with illustrator Timea Balo to curate the NFT collection for Pepsi Black, which is anchored on the brand’s pillars of innovation, self-expression, and evolution. Pepsi will release a set of 20 NFTs minted on the Polygon blockchain.
The NFT art collectibles are centred on the alterations to the classic Pepsi® Black™ ‘Zero’ visual, inspired by the brand’s passion points to portray poignant nuances such as sustainability, rhythm, movement, creativity, art, the progressing world of social media, and gamification. With three variations of each theme and four variations inspired by music, the “Pepsi Black Zero Sugar” collection will be listed on Open Sea, the world’s first and largest web3 marketplace for NFTs and crypto collectibles.
The NFTs will be given away to the winners of the “#PepsiBlackeffect” challenge conducted on the Indian homegrown social media platform, Moj. Consumers can enter the contest using the quirky Pepsi® Black lens and flaunt their max swag personas to get a chance to win Pepsi® Black’s maiden NFTs.
Speaking on the NFT collection, PepsiCo India category lead Saumya Rathor said, “Pepsi has always been at the forefront of cultural evolutions, globally as well as in India. Our endeavour is to transform our product as well as our narratives to align with the evolving youth. Our foray into the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for Indian consumers is a testimony to the same belief. The “Pepsi Black Zero Sugar” NFT collection will personify and bring alive the world of Pepsi Black by leveraging passion points that resonate the most with youngsters today, such as fashion, gaming, music, social media, dance, creativity, and environment. To present an accessible opportunity to our consumers, these NFTs will be given through an engaging “#PepsiBlackeffect” challenge on India’s homegrown social media platform, Moj.”
Commenting on the NFTs, PepsiCo India design director Tanu Sinha said, “Pepsi has strongly associated popular culture and passion points such as music, dance, art, and the environment with its legacy of disruptive narratives over the years. Pepsi’s design strategy has also, over the years, witnessed a significant shift with the acceleration of a digital-forward and social-media-savvy world. We have evolved our design sensibilities to connect with the younger generation to further Pepsi’s mission to create a culture that propagates innovation. The launch of Pepsi’s first-ever “Pepsi Black Zero Sugar” NFT collection is another step in this direction. With Pepsi Black’s “Zero” sugar philosophy at its core, these collectible art NFTs have been designed keeping in mind the passion points those youngsters can connect and relate to.”
iWorld
Prime Video unveils biggest India originals slate yet
Nearly 55 titles across languages signal deeper push into films, series
MUMBAI: Prime Video is turning up the volume on Indian storytelling, unveiling its largest-ever Originals slate at the ‘Prime Video Presents’ showcase, with close to 55 series and films spanning languages, genres and formats.
The new lineup, which stretches across Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, signals a clear intent: go bigger, go wider, and meet audiences wherever they are watching, whether on streaming screens or in cinemas. Alongside Originals, the platform also announced a fresh theatrical slate under Amazon MGM Studios, marking a deeper step into the big-screen business.
Among the headline acts is The Revolutionaries, a large-scale drama from Nikkhil Advani starring Bhuvan Bam and Rohit Saraf. The slate also features Matka King with Vijay Varma, Raakh starring Ali Fazal and Sonali Bendre, and Lukkhe, which marks rapper King’s acting debut. Adding a genre twist is Vansh – The Kalyug Warriors, positioned as India’s first homegrown Hindi superhero series for streaming.
Familiar favourites are also making a return, with new seasons of Farzi, Panchayat, Call Me Bae, Dupahiya, Dahaad and The Traitors in the pipeline, reinforcing the platform’s bet on established franchises.
Regional storytelling gets a notable push. Highlights include a Telugu adaptation of The Traitors hosted by Teja Sajja, the drama Guvvala Cheruvu Ghat, and Tamil titles such as Exam and returning seasons of Vadhandhi and Inspector Rishi.
The slate also opens new creative partnerships. Hrithik Roshan’s HRX Films steps into streaming with Storm and Mess, while Alia Bhatt’s Eternal Sunshine Productions backs Don’t Be Shy. Production houses including Excel Entertainment, Tiger Baby Films and The Viral Fever further deepen the creative bench.
On the theatrical front, the platform is lining up five films, including Raftaar starring Rajkummar Rao and Keerthy Suresh, VIBE directed by Kunal Kemmu, Dilkashi with music by A. R. Rahman, Nayyi Navelli featuring Yami Gautam, and Kuku Ki Kundli starring Wamiqa Gabbi.
According to Prime Video India director and head of Svod business Shilangi Mukherji, India remains central to the platform’s global growth, ranking among its top markets for new subscribers. She noted that nearly two-thirds of users watch content in more than four languages, underlining a growing appetite for diverse storytelling.
Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok, said the new slate reflects a continued push towards bold, culturally rooted narratives with global appeal.
In short, Prime Video is not just adding titles, it is widening the lens. From small-town dramas to superhero sagas and cinema-ready spectacles, the message is simple: more stories, more voices, and far more ways to watch them.
