Maharashtra Hosts IDSA Mahavikas 2026; a Government, Industry & Consumer Dialogue in Mumbai

 

Mumbai, 13 February 2026 - Maharashtra today witnessed the convergence of senior government dignitaries, consumer commission members, industry leaders and women direct sellers and Self Help Groups representing MAVIM at Mahavikas 2026, organised by the Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA) in collaboration with the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, Government of Maharashtra, at the Y.B. Chavan Centre.

The conference focused on strengthening consumer awareness, reinforcing ethical business practices and promoting women’s entrepreneurship in the direct selling sector.

 

India’s direct selling industry continues to demonstrate steady growth. As per IDSA’s Annual Survey FY 2023–24, the sector recorded total sales of ₹22,142 crore in FY 2023–24, marking a 4.04 percent rise over the previous year, and currently supports over 88 lakh direct sellers across the country, including close to 39 lakh women. Maharashtra has emerged as the largest contributor to this growth, with ₹2,879 crore in sales and a 13 percent share of the national market. Over 10 lakh active direct sellers in the state earn their livelihoods through the sector, positioning Maharashtra at the forefront of industry expansion and accountability.

 

The conference featured focused deliberations on regulatory frameworks, grievance redressal mechanisms and responsible business conduct. A key session titled “Smart Consumers, Strong Markets” highlighted practical guidance on evaluating direct selling platforms and consumer protection measures. Amongst the panelists, Hon. Smt. Vandana Mishra, President, District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission; Advocate Shri Uday Warunjikar, Member, Consumer Lawyers Association, Mumbai shared their views. Another session , “Empowering Women through Entrepreneurship,” showcased journeys of women direct sellers and MAVIM Self-help groups building sustainable livelihoods across communities, recognising these women for their achievements, through awards.

 

Shri Anil Diggikar, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, Maharashtra, noted, “Regulations deliver real impact only when they are effectively implemented on the ground. Consumers must be aware of their rights, and companies must be accountable for their conduct. When this balance is achieved, the marketplace becomes safer, more transparent, and more credible for all stakeholders.

 

” Ms. Aprajita Sarcar, Vice Chairperson, Indian Direct Selling Association, said, “True growth is not defined by scale alone, but by trust. A fair and transparent ecosystem is especially empowering for women—it instils confidence, encourages entrepreneurship, and enables them to build sustainable sources of income with the right support system in place.”

 

Amongst the industry leaders, Ms Soma Maitra, COO, Modicare; Dr. Abraham Lee, CEO / MD, Atomy India ; Dr Ratnesh Lal, Chairperson, IDSA and Mr Vivek Katoch, Treasurer, IDSA also shared their insightful views at the event. Mahavikas 2026 concluded with a joint commitment to strengthen consumer awareness, ethical practices, and women’s entrepreneurship. It reinforced that the future of direct selling in Maharashtra will be built on trust and transparency.

 

SIEVPL Unveils Immersive Tech to Operationalize Smart, Sustainable & Future-ReadyFactories at India Inc on the Move 2026

Mumbai 12 Feb 2026 S.I Energy Ventures India Pvt. Ltd. (SIEVPL), a leader in engineered

industrial solutions, is proud to announce its participation at ''India Inc on the Move 2026'',

the annual flagship manufacturing and technology forum hosted in association

with Rockwell Automation on February 12, 2026 at the Fairmont Hotel, Mumbai.

The event brings together industry luminaries, technology innovators, policymakers, and

manufacturing leaders to explore the future of smart, AI-driven, and sustainable industrial

operations. It will witness SIEVPL featuring a prominently positioned showcase booth

through a combination of strategic location, high-impact vertical design and immersive

technology where the entire leadership team will engage with visitors from the Chemical,

Pharma, FMCG, Automotive, Life Sciences and Process sectors including our customers: ITC,

IFFCO, Lupin, Haldiram, Kelloggs & Maruti to mention a few.

The central theme of SIEVPL’s participation is “Operationalizing Smart, Sustainable &

Future-Ready Factories” — emphasizing the company’s unique ability to deliver not only

best-in- class engineering and design solutions but also end-to-end lifecycle performance,

reliability, energy efficiency and customer peace of mind.

Hence, besides pitching SIEVPL’s deep domain expertise, the event will present its proven

ability to transform manufacturing operations into smart, sustainable and future-ready

plants. Backed by exceptional service capability and a relentless unputdownable attitude,

SIEVPL assists customers in achieving measurable performance gains, optimized energy

consumption and operational resilience across industries.

The USP of SIEVPL which makes it stand apart from typical system integrators, is:

# Energy optimization and sustainability impact, helping customers reduce operational costs

and carbon footprint. -2-

# Lifecycle performance reliability, ensuring long-term plant uptime and lower risk.

# In-depth domain expertise, supported by world-class engineering, design and service

capabilities.

# Customer-centric service ethos, focused on delivering on commitments and resolving

complex operational challenges.

During the India Inc on the Move expo, SIEVPL’s leadership team will be available for one-onone discussions on how organizations can accelerate digitalization, embed sustainability

practices into production systems, and build resilient operational models that deliver both

revenue growth and profitability.

About India Inc on the Move 2026:

India Inc on the Move (IIOTM) is a premier industry event aimed at shaping the future of

manufacturing through smart, sustainable, AI-powered approaches. The 2026 edition 

spotlights the strategies, innovations, and collaborations driving the transformation of 

India’s industrial ecosystem, with participation from leading organisations and cross-industry 

insights across Green Energy, Automotive, FMCG, pharma, chemicals, and more.

.      

India Hosts First BRICS Sherpa/Sous-Sherpa Meeting Under Its Chairship

10th February, Mumbai/New Delhi — The first BRICS Sherpa/Sous-Sherpa Meeting began in New Delhi on 9th February, marking a significant step in advancing the agenda under India’s BRICS Chairship. The three-day meeting, which will conclude on 11th February, has brought together senior representatives from BRICS member countries to discuss key priorities, coordination, and cooperation within the grouping.

Confirming the development in a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Secretary (Economic Relations) and India’s BRICS Sherpa, Sudhakar Dalela, is participating in the meeting. The discussions were also attended by China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to India, M. Kasko. In his address, Ambassador Kasko expressed gratitude to India for extending an invitation to Belarus as the representatives of BRICS partner countries had not previously taken part in such meetings

Sharing details about the event in the post, Spokesperson Jaiswal stated, “The first BRICS Sherpa/Sous-Sherpa Meeting commenced on 9 February in New Delhi.” He added that Sudhakar Dalela outlined the key priorities of India’s Chairship, guided by the Prime Minister’s vision of a “people-centric” and “humanity-first” approach to BRICS, and aligned with the overarching theme of “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

The meeting is expected to lay the groundwork for a series of BRICS engagements scheduled for later this year, including ministerial-level meetings and the BRICS Summit. It also aims to strengthen cooperation across economic, developmental, and global governance issues. Notably, this marks the fourth time India has assumed the BRICS Chairship, having previously held the position in 2012, 2016, and 2021.

US Delegation Lays Thrust on Trade, Technology & Investment to Boost India–US Trade Deal Momentum

We are proud to host this delegation as it comes at an opportune time. Our economic and trade partnership through such delegations after the India-US deal will lead to meaningful gains for MSMEs, startups and exporters integrating us into resilient supply chains complementing with our goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047: Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, World Trade Center Mumbai and President, All India Association of Industries

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In the picture(L to R): Ms. Priya Pansare, Director, Trade and Investment Promotion, World Trade Center Mumbai; Hon. Angela Birney, Mayor, City of Redmond, Washington; Mr. Dave Somers, County Executive, Snohomish County; Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, World Trade Center Mumbai and President, All India Association of Industries ; Mr. Sam Cho, Commissioner, Port of Seattle

Mumbai, 5th February 2026: Just days after India-US relations broke the ice by announcing a trade deal, World Trade Center Mumbai, in association with the All-India Association of Industries (AIAI), organized a high-level business delegation from Seattle today. This is the first India-focused leadership mission of its kind from the state of Washington, organized by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Greater Seattle Partners, comprising more than 35 senior leaders from business, real estate, technology, aviation, and the creative economy covering entire gamut of trade ties.

Sharing insights on the Seattle region’s economic strengths, innovation ecosystem, and opportunities for Indian companies, Mr. Dave Somers, County Executive, Snohomish County, Seattle Region said, “The county of Snohomish hosts the historic Boeing Factory positioning the city of Seattle as an aerospace hub. We at Seattle value international cooperation in trade and investment. With an experience in being a hub for high value manufacturing, we wish to collaborate in areas such as aerospace, advanced manufacturing and telecom technology, green energy, and infrastructure development. In the coming months we will develop a sustainable hub for aviation fuel in line with international standards thereby providing a window of opportunity for international players. Being heavily dependent on international trade, we are always open for trade and development in Snohomish County in Seattle”.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Sam Cho, Commissioner, Port of Seattle, said, “The Port of Seattle is one of the most diversified ports in the United States and a major international gateway. We are deeply committed to global connectivity, with the largest cruise business on the U.S. West Coast and a strong maritime presence through the Northwest Seaport Alliance formed in 2015. Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, our trade volumes have remained steady”.

“The Seattle metropolitan region is home to global leaders such as Boeing, Amazon, Microsoft, and Starbucks. We see significant opportunities to expand air cargo and passenger services with India, which is currently our 13th-largest air cargo trade partner. With over 277,000 passengers traveling between Seattle and India, we also remain focused on strengthening trade, services, and connectivity. We highly value the role of the World Trade Center and admire the spirit of innovation and service demonstrated by Indian enterprises.” added Mr. Sam Cho

Hon. Angela Birney, Mayor, City of Redmond, Seattle Region, said, “Redmond is a global hub for innovation built on talent, diversity, and international collaboration. Nearly 45% of our residents were born outside the United States, and 75% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. The Indian community and Indian entrepreneurs play a vital role in our economy and cultural fabric”.

“Redmond hosts a growing startup ecosystem in artificial intelligence, fusion energy, implant computers, and clean technology, and is home to several global Indian companies such as HCL, Tata Group, and Tech Mahindra, strengthening two-way economic ties. India is a strategic partner in education, innovation, culture, and long-term growth. By investing in relationships with India, we invest in shared prosperity. US is seriously looking at India as a preferred investment destination” added Ms. Birney.

In his welcome address, Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, World Trade Center Mumbai and President, All India Association of Industries, said “the recent India–US trade deal, aims to scale bilateral trade in goods and services to USD 500 billion by 2030, similarly we should aim to scale capital flows from US to India from the current mark of 50 Billion dollars. This will lead to improved market access to US markets helping exporters and driving investment flows”.

“This delegation comes at an opportune time as we press the reset button to our ties. Seattle is the tech city of the US and as we march towards the 10 trillion-dollar economy by 2030, this relationship with Seattle will work both ways harnessing capital and required technology for the growth of our economy. With this delegation at World Trade Center, Mumbai, I would like to pass on the message through you that India is eager to grow with mutual support. Let temporary hiccups not be a long aberration for our consequential ties”, stressed Dr. Kalantri. 

Dr. Kalantri stated, “The Seattle region represents key opportunities for Indian businesses, particularly in sectors such as technology, logistics, real estate, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and start-ups. Home to global leaders in aerospace, quantum computing, and innovation including Boeing, Microsoft and several other major companies, Seattle offers strong potential for collaboration with Indian industry. Complement with the trade deal, this will lead to meaningful gains for Indian MSMEs creating job opportunities”.

The event witnessed participation from over 1000 representatives from industry, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs, with structured and positive B2B meetings harnessing the full potential of the visit. The Seattle business delegation’s visit to World Trade Center Mumbai underscored the shared commitment of India and the United States to deepen economic engagement, foster innovation-led growth, and build resilient global partnerships.

Ms. Priya Pansare, Director, Trade and Investment Promotion, World Trade Centre, Mumbai expressed vote of thanks to the dignitaries present and the visiting delegation for the high-level business meet.

LIBF Expo 2026 Draws 35,000+ Visitors, Highlights India’s Expanding Role in Cross-Border Trade Platforms

18+ Global Conventions | 25+ Countries | 30+ Industries | 246 Exhibitors

Platform blends business, knowledge exchange, social inclusion, and community impact.

MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 05, 2026 LIBF Expo 2026 – Mumbai Calling, a multi-sector international trade and business networking event held in Mumbai, attracted more than 35,000 visitors over three days, reflecting growing demand for sector-driven platforms connecting Indian enterprises with global markets.

The event hosted 18+ global conferences, participation from 25+ countries, representation across 30+ industries, and featured 246 exhibitors across sectors including financial services, healthcare, legal services, logistics, manufacturing, infrastructure, and emerging technologies.

The Expo was held at the Jio World Convention Centre and brought together business leaders, institutional representatives, investors, policymakers, and sector specialists. Organisers positioned the platform as a connector between enterprise ecosystems across India, the Gulf region, Africa, Europe, the UK, North America, and Asia-Pacific markets.

More than 10,000 curated business and professional participants attended sector conventions, industry roundtables, and trade-focused sessions. Participants discussed cross-border expansion strategies, supply chain diversification, regulatory compliance frameworks, and capital access across emerging and developed markets.

Industry participants highlighted increasing interest in India as both a manufacturing base and services export hub, alongside growing outbound expansion by Indian small and mid-sized enterprises.

The event also saw participation from national industry and governance-linked institutions including the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IMC), the Institute of Directors (IOD), and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

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Education, Social Responsibility and Community Initiatives

Alongside its trade and business focus, LIBF Expo 2026 integrated multiple social responsibility and community-impact initiatives into the platform. These included complimentary stalls for women-led Gruh Udyog enterprises, education and training institutions, and community-focused organisations; facilitation of UAE-focused business advisory and overseas expansion support; recognition of individuals and organizations through international awards; and a structured education initiative supporting capacity enhancement across 100 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) municipal schools.

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Dignitaries and Recognition

The Expo and associated ceremonies witnessed the presence of senior policymakers, institutional leaders, defence officials, jurists, industry veterans, and elected representatives.

The Inaugural Ceremony was blessed by a special video message from Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, inspiring participants towards responsible business, ethical growth, and service-driven leadership, and was graced by the presence of distinguished dignitaries including Vice Admiral Atul Anand, AVSM, VSM, Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Government of India; Mr. Ashish Kumar Chauhan, Managing Director and CEO, National Stock Exchange of India (NSE); and Mr. Motilal Oswal, Co-Founder, CMD, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd.

Smt. Amruta Devendra Fadnavis, was the Guest of Honour at the International Awards Ceremony, added prestige and meaningful value to the platform, celebrating excellence, leadership, and global collaboration.

Prominent dignitaries and eminent personalities who graced the Expo included Padma Shri Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India; Shri R. Venkataramani, Attorney General of India; Mr. Bhushan Gagrani, IAS, Municipal Commissioner of Greater Mumbai; Mr. Raamdeo Agrawal, Chairman, Motilal Oswal Group; Ms. Radhika Gupta, Managing Director and CEO, Edelweiss Mutual Fund; Justice M. R. Shah, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India; Mr. Nitin Thakker, Senior Advocate, Bombay High Court and President, Bombay Bar Association; and Mr. Mihir Kotecha, MLA, Mulund Constituency.

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Leadership Statement

In a joint statement, Mr. Satish D. Vithalani, Chairman, LIBF, and Mr. Vijay P. Karia, Director, LIBF, said the Expo reflects the growing need for structured, sector-driven platforms that enable Indian enterprises to engage confidently with global markets.

They noted that LIBF Expo 2026 demonstrated how trade, professional knowledge exchange, institutional collaboration, and community initiatives can converge on a single platform to support sustainable cross-border growth and long-term economic engagement.

Ananya Birla Launches Birla Studios

 

 

Date, Mumbai, India - 4th February, 2026. Birla Studios has been created with the intent to create high concept, prestige-driven, commercial cinema. It will focus on stories that seamlessly balance broad audience reach with artistic distinction, championing culturally relevant narratives and storytelling.

 

Rooted in Ananya Birla’s belief in cinema as a medium of expression, the studio is committed to curating cinema that creates immediate emotional connection while leaving an indelible mark. With a strong emphasis on creative ambition and commercial viability, Birla Studios aims to shape films that are both meaningful and widely engaging.

 

“We are all stories. Cinema is one of the most powerful mediums through which those stories are told. At its most powerful, cinema creates an immediate connection while leaving a lasting resonance. At Birla Studios, our focus is on curating a slate of films that balance cultural significance with strong entertainment value and a conscious stand to nurture new talent, while exploring genres, amplifying fresh voices and diverse perspectives. As we put this slate together, we’ve been deeply encouraged by the kindness and receptiveness of everyone across the industry. It would be a privilege to play even a small part in taking Indian cinema forward,” said Ananya Birla.

 

Birla Studios is shaping a multi-language slate that spans stories in Hindi, Gujarati, Malayalam amongst other regional languages and international English language cinema, reflecting its ambition to engage audiences across borders and cultures.

Stay tuned for further announcements as the studio reveals its upcoming projects.

 

 

About Birla Studios

Launched in 2026, Birla Studios is a film studio focused on building high-concept, commercial cinema. The studio is driven by a belief in stories that endure, prioritizing depth, craft, and long-term relevance. Genre-agnostic in approach, Birla Studios backs films with strong commercial appeal while nurturing promising talent, emerging voices and bold ideas. With an emphasis on scale, storytelling ambition, and thoughtful execution, the studio aims to create cinema that balances cultural specificity with universal reach.

 

 

About Ananya Birla

Ananya Birla is an entrepreneur and business leader with a strong track record of building institutions defined by scale, governance, measurable impact and profitability. She combines hands-on operational leadership with a long-term vision across financial services, real estate, global trading, consumer brands, and scalable impact.

 

 

As Founder and Chairperson of Svatantra Microfin, she has steered the company as India’s second largest and best performing microfinance institution.

In 2025, she launched Contraband and LOVETC under the banner of Birla Cosmetics, where she is building highly aspirational brands anchored in differentiated consumer insights and product excellence.

 

With Birla Studios, she brings the same strategic rigour, creative sensitivity and future-forward thinking to the movie business, positioning the studio as a meaningful new force in the evolving entertainment landscape.

Ms. Birla also plays an active strategic role within the Aditya Birla Group, serving on its apex strategic body, ABMCPL, and on the boards of Hindalco, Grasim, and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail.

 

Beyond business, she is the first Indian artist to have multiple English-language multi platinum selling singles in India, the first Indian artist featured on an American national Top 40 chart, and an MTV Europe Music Awards nominee.

 

Recognised as Fortune’s Most Powerful Women (2025), The Economic Times’ 40 Under 40, Business Today’s Most Powerful Women and among the most promising voices at World Economic Forum, Davos 2026, she consistently pursues value creation and excellence across both enterprise and creative expression.

Hyderabad-based Marri Retail Limited files DRHP for IPO

Hyderabad-based Marri Retail Limited has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with capital markets regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for its Initial Public Offering (IPO).

The IPO, with a face value of ₹2, is a mix of fresh issue of shares aggregating up to Rs 522 crore and offer-for-sale of 27,000,000 equity shares by promoter - Marri Venkat Reddy.

The proceeds from its fresh issuance worth Rs 115.6 crore will be utilised for repayment/ prepayment, in full or part, of all or certain outstanding borrowings availed by the company, Rs 250.5 crore for capital expenditure to be incurred towards opening of 10 new apparel stores, one new apparel store with jewellery SIS (Integrated Retail Store) and two new standalone jewellery stores (the Jewellery Stores), Rs 35.8 crore expenditure for lease/sub lease rent payments for certain of the company's existing stores and warehouse, and general corporate purposes.

The company, in consultation with the book-running lead managers, may consider a pre-IPO Placement for up to Rs 104.4 crore. The pre-IPO placement if completed, the fresh issue size will be reduced.

The Offer is being made through the book-building process, wherein not more than 50% of the net offer is allocated to qualified institutional buyers, and not more than 15% and 35% of the net offer is assigned to non-institutional bidders and retail individual bidders respectively.

Marri Retail is an apparel and jewellery retailer operating stores under multiple brands, offering a comprehensive and well-diversified product portfolio across a wide range of price points, including premium, mid-premium and value. 

The company commenced apparel retail business as a proprietorship under the brand name ‘Jeans Corner’ in 1999 and entered the large-format retail segment by launching the first shopping mall under the “The Chennai Shopping Mall” brand in Hyderabad in 2013.

The company has 34 stores with an aggregate retail space of 0.98 million square feet across 26 districts in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The company operate its stores under multiple brands, including, The Chennai Shopping Mall, JC Mall, J.C. Brothers and Jeans Corner in the apparel category, and The Chennai Shopping Mall Jewellers in the jewellery category.

The company's differentiated business model, supported by a diversified product portfolio, strategic store expansion, technology-driven supply chain, and targeted marketing, the company believe positions it to capitalize on industry growth and strengthen its position in organized retail in the states it operates.

As of September 30, 2025, the company had 522 apparel articles (including 129 articles under our private label brands) and 259 jewellery articles, positioning it as a one-stop destination for family shopping, driving footfalls and repeat purchases.

The company’s revenue from operations was Rs 1,301.42 crore during the six-months ended September 30, 2025, and net profit was Rs 83.52 crore

Its revenue from operations was Rs 2,456.27 crore during FY25 vis-a-vis Rs 1,900.84 crore during FY23.

Mumbai based Four Bridge Capital (FBC) has assisted Marri Retail Ltd on its IPO journey and FBC Team has supported throughout the DRHP filing process.

Nuvama Wealth Management Limited, IIFL Capital Services Limited and Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors Limited are the book-running lead managers.

The equity shares are proposed to be listed on BSE and NSE.

Shelter is a solid watch ⭐⭐⭐

⭐⭐⭐

Shelter – Movie Review 

Overall, Shelter is a solid watch for action lovers who enjoy powerful performances and smart direction. 

Realistic, Brutal Combat,as expected with a Jason Statham lead, the action leans into hand-to-hand combat, tactical fights, and physical confrontation rather than flashy superhero antics. Statham’s characters are typically tough, efficient fighters and here he delivers that signature gritty intensity. 

Jason Statham as a central figure carries most of the narrative weight. His performance combines stoic resilience with physical ferocity, especially in the action sequences. 

Bodhi Rae Breathnach: Plays the young girl whose presence catalyzes the core conflict. Her interactions with Mason add emotional stakes to the otherwise tough-guy narrative.

Bill Nighy, Naomi Ackie and Daniel Mays round out the cast, bringing depth and tension in both supportive and antagonistic roles. Their inclusion hints at strong character interplay beyond the physical action

Ric Roman Waugh has a track record of grounded action thrillers that blend character urgency with physical spectacle. In Shelter the narrative rhythm tends toward both survival drama and bursts of action, using quieter moments to deepen character stakes before intense sequences.

Asian Paints Where The Heart Is returns with five exquisite home tours in Season 9,

 showcasing how celebs are redefining homes through colour, emotion, identity and design

Introduces the ‘Asian Paints Where The Heart Is’ Lookbook to help consumers decode colour and décor inspiration for their own homes

Mumbai, January 23, 2026: Asian Paints, India’s leading paint and décor company, returns with the 9th  season of its much-loved home décor and storytelling property, Asian Paints Where The Heart Is. Over the years, the series has become a cultural touchstone, celebrating homes that are deeply personal reflections of the people who inhabit them. Season 9 continues this legacy, bringing to life stories that go beyond walls and colours to uncover the emotions, memories and values that truly make a house a home.

This season opens the doors to five distinctive homes of some of India’s most admired personalities, Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal, Gautam Gambhir, Keerthy Suresh and Antony Thattil, Archana Puran Singh and Parmeet Sethi, and Aman and Priya Gupta. While each home is different in style, geography and personality, they are united by a shared sense of warmth, authenticity and emotional depth. Across the season, viewers witness how homes become living canvases, shaped by relationships, routines, memories and the everyday moments that make life meaningful.

Viewers step into spaces that feel deeply lived-in and personal, each shaped by the lives lived within them. Archana and Parmeet invite audiences into their Anglo-Spanish inspired home in Madh, that has grown gently over time, rooted in family, nature and shared memories. Keerthy and Antony’s vibrant Kochi apartment reflects her instinctive relationship with colour and emotion, layered with playful details and spaces designed for everyday joy. Sonakshi and Zaheer open the doors to their penthouse ‘Saada’, a home that holds many moods, from lively conversations in the sunken pit to quieter, memory-filled corners.

Speaking on the launch, Amit Syngle, MD & CEO, Asian Paints said “With the ninth season of Asian Paints Where The Heart Is, we are proud to continue a journey that Asian Paints has been committed to for decades, helping Indians see their homes not just as places they live in, but as personal reflections of who they are. With over 1 billion views & counting, Asian Paints Where the Heart Is continues to be India’s most loved & watched home décor shows. Over the years, this series has evolved into a meaningful platform through which we have guided consumers on colour, décor and design — simplifying choices, demystifying trends, and showing how thoughtful design decisions can elevate everyday living. As a brand that has long stood for colour and design authority, this responsibility lies at the heart of everything we do.

MHADA lifts stop work from a project stalled for 17 years

A stop work notice which brought a project spread over 9 acres in Jogeshwari to a grinding halt,

crashing dreams of 576 occupant families and 350 home buyers, has recently been lifted by

MHADA’s building permission cell. This is after Pune based Mantra Group was asked to take the

over the project by National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

The saga revolved around redevelopment of MHADA colony which had 576 houses under the

banner of Majaswadi Sarvodayanagar Co-operative Housing Society. Back in 2008, the residents

decided to undertake the redevelopment of the colony, as a composite redevelopment scheme.

They appointed Acme Realities Pvt Ltd to execute the project. The project involved rehousing all

the occupant families and using the remaining land parcel for constructing sale towers. Acme

started construction of three towers for 171 of the 576 original occupants, and also launched two

sale towers. They sold houses to 350 home buyers in the two towers.

In order to finance the scheme, they raised substantial funds, which by the time the matter came

to NCLT had reached Rs 4,326.72 crores. When Acme could not complete the project, home

buyers moved NCLT. In August last year, NCLT entrusted Mantra to complete the project. Total

of 14 developers were in the fray for the project.

Within weeks of taking over, mantra cleared back rent of 316 tenants and paid them rent for the

current year. The 92 tenants on site were paid 1 year rent in advance and next year's pdc was

handed over along with hardship charges. Mantra has started work on homebuyer towers and is

now pushing towards completion

To add to this, Mantra has recently received funding of Rs 340 crores from ASK Property Fund,

the real estate arm of the Blackstone-backed ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group. The

funding will enable Mantra to put the development of Jogeshwari project in fast track.

Mantra Properties has established itself in Pune market. Over the past 18 years, the developer has

completed 16 large projects spanning housing 7,500 plus families.

Amit Bhagat, Co-founder, MD & CEO, ASK Property Fund, stated“ We remain committed to

providing growth capital for land acquisition of residential projects linked to approvals and

requiring financial closure of up to INR 500 crore.”

Rohit Gupta, CEO, Mantra Group, said, “The collaboration between ASK Property Fund and

Mantra Group is coming at a very opportune time. Of the three projects that are being invested

into, two of them have been stuck for a significant time, leaving many homebuyers in a lurch. In

the Mumbai project, Mantra’s acquisition and ASK Property Fund’s investment will impact lives of

576 families residing on the land parcel and another 350 families who had bought homes in the

erstwhile proposed development. As a group, we are committed to delivering quality homes and

fulfilling long-pending wishes of homebuyers.”