Applications
Big Home Video offers Dabangg free on YouTube
MUMBAI: In a first of its kind move, Big Home Video, the home video arm of Reliance, is releasing Salman Khan starrer Dabangg on the online video site – YouTube.
Produced by Arbaaz Khan’s Productions and directed by Abhinav Kashyap, Dabangg will be the first Indian blockbuster movie to be released on YouTube in India on advertisement supported model.
Hindustan Unilever will be the exclusive sponsor for the movie on YouTube India.
HUL Media Services GM Srikanth Srinivasamadhavan said, “It is an exciting phase where Hindustan Unilever is looking at leveraging digital platforms and this is in line with our ambition to reach consumers through new platforms.”
Starting today, the full movie will be showcased on youtube.com/dabanggthefilm for free viewing to audiences in India. Users will also be able to enjoy short clips from the movie like popular scenes, songs and other footage from the making of the movie.
Big Home Video COO Sweta Agnihotri said, “The way consumers view content today is morphing and to keep pace with their expectations we are changing our business models too.”
“As a part of our digital foray, getting a blockbuster hit like Dabangg to YouTube viewers in India is a big step for us, in terms of experimenting with this novel distribution method. We look forward to a strong and ongoing partnership with YouTube India,” Agnihotri added.
However, the channel will be only available to users in India and will be IP blocked in other markets of the world.
Google Director Content Partnerships (Japan–Asia Pacific) Gautam Anand said, “We are excited to partner with Big Pictures to bring the mega blockbuster Dabangg on YouTube for free viewing in India. We have made tremendous progress in bringing long form premium content to our users in India from catch up TV to live streaming of mega sports event and now introducing mega blockbuster movies from Bollywood.
“This initiative marks a major shift in the way movies have been traditionally distributed and opens up a new business opportunity for movie producers and distributors alike.”
Applications
With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
