News Broadcasting
The Brahmastra journey begins on Maha Shivratri, at the Kumbh Mela!
MUMBAI: On March 4th, the auspicious day of Maha Shivratri, and the culmination of the Kumbh Mela, the team of Brahmāstra, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Ayan Mukerji, launched a swarm of drones that illuminated the evening sky to reveal the Brahmāstra logo. (watch the event video – https://bit.ly/2NGcBab)
Above the confluence of three sacred rivers – the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, at the sacred Triveni Sangam of Prayagraj, with a background of over 10 million visitors, a whole phalanx of drones flew overhead to light up the sky with the logo of the film.
Set in contemporary India, but imbued in Indian mythology, magical energies and powers, Brahmāstra is a film that takes us to a spectacular new world beyond our imagination – a blend of massive spectacle, storytelling and emotion. The makers could not imagine a more fitting platform than the Kumbh to commence the Brahmāstra journey.
Says Karan Johar – “The Kumbh is the epitome of our rich cultural history and is a reminder of our roots. It is everything that India stands for, a confluence of spirituality and history”
Adds Apoorva Mehta, CEO, Dharma Productions “There could not be a more befitting canvas for us to initiate our journey. We thank the platform for this wonderful opportunity”
Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios, “Brahmāstra, at its core, is a vehicle that brings alive the boundless wisdom of ancient India. And what better event than the Kumbh that showcases India at its finest, as an ancient tradition of all its different cultures coming together in a glorious melting pot.”
Ayan Mukerji – “Brahmāstra is a film deeply inspired by the spirit of Indian history and mythology. The film aspires to touch that chord of Indian spirituality that exists within all of us. I feel very grateful that we can kick start the journey for our very ambitious film on the occasion of Maha Shivratri at the Kumbh Mela. May all the positive energies at Kumbh rain down upon our movie! “
From a strategically placed take-off and landing pad at the sangam point, the drones went through several levels of checks, simulations, capability tests, formation pre-runs and light sequencing to prepare for the grand logo reveal. Special drone pilots were engaged to make this spectacle happen. The planning and execution took over 6 months to come together.
Shikha Kapur, CMO, FSS – “This has been the most exciting and challenging launches to plan and execute. What seemed like an impossible idea became a dream we committed ourselves to pursue. It’s a testament to the passion that FSS, Dharma and all our partners bring to the film to make the impossible happen”
The Brahmāstra trilogy is a three–part–film, the first part is slated for release on Christmas 2019.
Directed by Ayan Mukerji, Produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Namit Malhotra, Ranbir Kapoor, Ayan Mukerji & Fox Star Studios.
Brahmāstra stars Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Mouni Roy & Nagarjuna Akkineni.
News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
