TRAVEL
$100K H1B visa fee spurs last-minute US bookings on travel platforms like MakeMyTrip
With H1B costs shooting up, many Indians scramble to get back to the US before the financial pinch deepens. Several large firms including Amazon, Microsoft, and JPMorgan have advised employees to return and this can create localized booking surges and airline seat pressure.
ENTERTAINMENT
Coolie wins the war as it tops August box office; Malayalam movies sweep the chart
The 2025 box office tally has already hit Rs 8,370 crore, marking a 21 percent surge compared to 2024’s performance.
TRAVEL
Where is Gen Z going for festive break? Gujarat’s Garba to Kolkata’s Puja fuel holiday travel rush
Gen Z and millennials are giving a fillip to cultural and spiritual tourism in India, promoting growth in the transport and hospitality sectors as well
ENTERTAINMENT
Movie tickets get cheaper in Karnataka as theatres implement new price cap of Rs 200
Karnataka has capped movie tickets at Rs 200, bringing cheer to cinegoers while exhibitors are worried over shrinking margins.
ENTERTAINMENT
Balaji turns to micro drama segment Kutingg to rewrite streaming playbook as ALTT exits
The Initial strategy is to migrate all paid customers to the new app with whatever subscription packs they had already taken. Between Dussehra and Diwali, new content will be launched and acquisition of new customers undertaken.
TECHNOLOGY
Real money gaming's loss is Esports gain as Tesla, Bisleri, Red Bull rush to sponsor tournaments
Brands like Tesla and Bisleri are hitting play as they see esports as a safe bet for big reach after clarity from Online Gaming Act. With more advertisers logging in, ad spends are expected to see double-digit growth, potentially making the online gaming bigger than ever.
ENTERTAINMENT
First Malayalam female superhero movie Lokah marvels box office, beating collections of a Mohanlal blockbuster
Emerging as the second highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time at the international box office, the film has also gone ahead of blockbuster movies like the Manjummel Boys which earned Rs 74 crore internationally.
TECHNOLOGY
From Zomato to boAt, top brands tuning into India's first all-AI band Trilok and virtual influencers
Marketers are lining up to sponsor albums of AI band Trilok as well as its AI influencers, drawn in by their growing reach and novelty.
TECHNOLOGY
Deepfakes drive legal rush: Bollywood stars move courts as Personality Rights battles rise
In the past year alone, at least half a dozen high‑profile public figures have moved the courts to secure injunctions safeguarding their personality rights, reflecting a sharp rise in such litigation, a lawyer said.
TRAVEL
Leisure or pilgrimage, Gen Z leads the way; all eyes on festive travel rush: Cleartrip
Cleartrip is betting big on the festive season, as young travelers fuel demand across leisure and spiritual journeys alike.
TRENDS
Dil Chahta hAI: From queue busting to chatbots, AI scripts a new show for theatres
Use of AI is helping cinemas across the world read the audience, identify their specific tastes and create a smoother and more personalised movie-going experience
ENTERTAINMENT
No cheap thrills? Movie tickets GST cut to benefit small-town cinemas, multiplexes to miss out
For most audiences, the much-anticipated blockbuster price drop will remain a limited release, say exhibitors
TRENDS
Garba Goodies, Diwali Dhamaka: GST cuts to spark ad boom, 8-10% surge in brand spends
Digital and influencer marketing will lead the surge, with digital spends expected to jump 15–18 percent and influencers seeing 2–3 times spikes around launches and festive campaigns, said a marketer.
TRAVEL
Hotels welcome GST cut but were hoping for more, some worry about impact on profits
While the GST rate cut on is a relief for guests, budget hotels may end up paying the price as lower GST is expected to grow occupancy but it risks shrinking profitability.
TRENDS
GST cut sets stage for Rs 700-crore ad blitz in influencer marketing this festival season
Consumer durables, fashion and beauty, FMCG and e-commerce are likely to be the top-spending sectors, with content in regional languages expected to drive higher engagement than English content
BUSINESS
Hotel chains expect lower GST to boost income, revenue
Hoteliers expect a 5–7 percent higher occupancy in leisure markets and a 3–5 percent in business hubs if the GST is lowered for the Rs 7,500-room segment
TRENDS
Reels to roadblocks: Influencer economy struggles as online gaming ban wipes out crores in deals
Content creators focused on gaming, fantasy sports or betting-related content are particularly hit, losing not only revenue but also encountering content removal or algorithmic penalties on platforms such as Instagram and YouTube
TRAVEL
From Buddha trails to boardrooms: India-China thaw to unlock billion-dollar tourism flows
According to travel experts, warming ties with China is set to boost spiritual circuits and business travel revenues. They said for India, this means new demand across cultural, wellness, and Himalayan tourism segments.
ENTERTAINMENT
Cut GST, double screens: Multiplex body's recipe for India to hit 20,000 cinemas
Under the current tax regime, GST on cinema tickets is 12 percent for movie tickets priced up to Rs 100 and 18 percent above Rs 100, which came into effect in 2018.
TECHNOLOGY
Game changer: Esports-carve out in Online Gaming Act to boost talent and structured growth
The focus must now be on developing infrastructure such as arenas, bootcamps, education programs, and scholarships to nurture the next generation of talent, whether competing on the world stage or shaping culture as gaming creators, said players and platforms.
BUSINESS
From hits to hot dogs: PVR Inox serves fine dining and gaming to woo Gen Z
About 10 to 12 percent of the upcoming screens in the next two years will have immersive formats inlcuding dine-in and gaming, both in cinema and outside.
BUSINESS
Maker of The Kerala Story hits play on music, micro dramas in run-up to IPO
The digital projects will also go into production by the first week of September with content launching from October end onwards.
SPORTS
Ban on real money gaming threatens IPL and other sports leagues' sponsorship lifeline
Experts have said that the curbs could eliminate real money as well as fantasy sport platforms as sponsors, jeopardizing advertising inflows essential for state-level leagues and broader sports development.
BUSINESS
Game over: Ban on online gaming may wipe out up to Rs 4,500 crore in ad revenue
Losing gaming category would create an advertising expenditure black hole of nearly Rs 2,000 crore for broadcasters and streaming platforms, said marketers
