iWorld
Z5 zips open micro-drama app, Bullet
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises (Z) has gone all-in on short-form content, announcing a strategic partnership with content start-up Bullet.
The aim?
To launch India’s inaugural micro-drama app, delivering high-intensity, bite-sized entertainment straight to your mobile, no faffing about.
This new venture sees Z, a bona fide content and technology powerhouse, team up with serial entrepreneurs Azim Lalani and Saurabh Kushwah, the brains behind Bullet. Their creation promises fast-paced, creator-driven content, served up in snappy, vertical episodes – perfect for the TikTok generation with attention spans shorter than a Mumbai rickshaw driver’s temper.
Bullet, cunningly nestled within the Z5 ecosystem, plans to leverage its massive user base to pump out “masala-paced plots and emotional punch”4. Think binge-watching, but quicker than a bullet. And because variety is the spice of life, it’ll be available across languages, drawing on Z’s rich content vault.
“As the digital ecosystem grows exponentially, we are constantly identifying several value-accretive opportunities to drive scale,” purred a company spokesperson for Z. “Our strategic partnership with Bullet aims to build a competitive advantage for the future by identifying innovative formats and scaling them through our platforms to drive stronger monetization.” Sounds like they’re ready to make a packet.
Azim Lalani, co-founder & chief business officer at Bullet, waxed lyrical about the “next big shift” in content consumption, noting the influx of short-form content. “With snacky content increasingly capturing the audiences’ short attention span and keeping them engaged, the next wave of content consumption will encompass creators that nurture the ability to deliver intrigue and emotions in bite-sized formats,” he quipped.
Meanwhile, Saurabh Kushwah, Bullet’s co-founder and chief technology & product officer, promised an app that not only “entertains but also enables,” boasting “gamified layers, AI-backed content ops, and a creator-first ecosystem.”
Sounds like they’re not just playing games, but building a whole new playground.
This isn’t just about micro-dramas; it’s about Z cementing its place as a “content and technology company,” adapting to evolving trends faster than a politician changes their mind. With Z5’s cutting-edge tech and consumer insights, Bullet is primed to hit the bullseye.
e-commerce
Flipkart rolls out 105 per cent bonus for 20,000 employees
Strong FY25 performance drives payouts even as layoffs and shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: In a year where belts were tightened and rewards loosened, Flipkart seems to be playing both offence and defence trimming roles on one hand while handing out a generous 105 per cent bonus on the other. The Walmart owned e commerce major has rolled out a 105 per cent bonus payout for 2025, covering nearly 20,000 employees, signalling a year of steady operational momentum even as the company navigates restructuring pressures. The payout, communicated internally by chief human resources officer Seema Nair, is tied to performance across key metrics including growth, operational efficiency, financial outcomes and people indicators, a combination that suggests the company is inching closer to its long stated goal of sustainable profitability.
Employees at SD level and below are set to receive their bonuses in March, while payouts for senior leadership, including vice presidents and senior vice presidents, will follow after the close of the performance cycle. The elevated 105 per cent multiplier stands out in a sector where cautious payouts have increasingly become the norm, pointing to what appears to be a relatively strong internal scorecard for FY25.
Yet, the announcement arrives with a noticeable contrast. Earlier this year, Flipkart reduced its workforce by around 300 roles as part of its annual performance review process. While officially framed as performance driven, the juxtaposition of layoffs alongside above target bonuses reflects a more nuanced balancing act, one that prioritises cost discipline while continuing to reward and retain high performing talent.
This dual approach is becoming increasingly common across the technology and e commerce landscape, where companies are navigating an uneven hiring environment while under pressure to deliver profitability. Rewarding top contributors, even amid selective workforce reductions, allows firms to maintain morale and retain critical talent without losing sight of financial prudence.
At the same time, Flipkart is also undergoing leadership shifts that hint at a broader strategic recalibration. Nishant Verman has been appointed senior vice president for corporate development and partnerships, while group chief financial officer Sriram Venkataraman is set to step down. Ravi Iyer will take on expanded responsibilities within the finance function, marking a reshuffle at the top as the company gears up for its next phase.
These changes come amid reports that Flipkart is planning to shift its holding structure back to India, a move widely interpreted as groundwork for a potential public listing. While timelines remain fluid, the combination of stronger financial discipline, leadership restructuring and employee incentivisation suggests a company preparing itself for greater scrutiny and scale.
For employees, the 105 per cent payout offers a welcome boost in what has otherwise been a period of adjustment. For Flipkart, it is a signal that even as it cuts where necessary, it is willing to spend where it counts. In the high stakes game of growth versus profitability, the company appears to be hedging its bets carefully, rewarding performance while reshaping itself for what could be its most defining chapter yet.
