Latest news with #Bollywood-related
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Maharashtra postal dept hosts 'India Post: Expo Symposium' in Mumbai to strengthen ties with exporters
MUMBAI: In a bid to enhance international postal logistics and strengthen ties with exporters, the Maharashtra postal dept hosted the 'India Post: Expo Symposium' at a hotel in Andheri on objective of the symposium was to understand the requirements of major exporters and e-commerce leaders. There was a demonstration of international mail solutions, covering end-to-end tracking, customs facilitation, and global connectivity."With the rise of global e-commerce and cross-border trade , especially among small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the symposium brought together key stakeholders from the international export and logistics ecosystem for collaborative growth opportunities. The event enabled India Post to connect directly with high-volume exporters and showcase its cutting-edge global delivery services , including EMS (speed post service), International Tracked Packet, and International Business Parcel," the dept said in a press attendees included Amitabh Singh, Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra Circle; R K Mishra, Directorate General of Foreign Trade; Kaiya Arora, Director Postal Services, Mumbai Region; Simran Kaur, Director Postal Services (Headquarter) Mumbai; and Abhijeet Ichake, Director Postal Services of Navi Mumbai Region. Check out the latest news in Mumbai on The Times of India with a wide range of topics including Mumbai politics, Mumbai crime, sports, fashion, Bollywood, culture, industries, civic bodies, Mumbai traffic updates, new trends, education and civic issues. From the regular hustle-bustle of the fast-paced life of the metropolis to the gastronomical delights in famous Khau Gallis. From latest political developments to Bollywood-related events or even Mumbai's notorious traffic jams. We cover it all in detail and you can check it all in just one click. Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra state, was formerly known as Bombay. Now, it is also considered the financial and commercial capital of the country. The mega city has strong historical links, wonderful British architecture, museums, shrines, beaches and the Hindi film industry which is also known as Bollywood. The seven islands which form the metropolis were earlier home to fishing communities. For centuries, the islands were being controlled by the successive indigenous empires before being ceded to the Portuguese and later to the East India Company of Great Britain. During the mid-18th century, Bombay was reshaped with the construction of major roads and railways and subsequently it transformed into a major seaport on the Arabian Sea as we see it today. The city was renamed Mumbai in 1996. The happening city carries a vibrant and cosmopolitan culture. Be it Bollywood or Victorian-era buildings, Asia's largest slum in Dharavi or the lunchbox delivery and return system of the famous dabbawalas, every aspect of Mumbai boasts a unique identity.
Business Upturn
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
Reddit users question if Bollywood PR agencies still influence public opinion
A thought-provoking post on Reddit's popular subreddit Bolly Blinds N Gossip has sparked a sharp debate around the continued relevance of PR in the Hindi film industry. The subreddit, dedicated to sharing and dissecting Bollywood-related gossip, blind items, and unfiltered opinions, became a hotbed of commentary after one user posed a bold question, 'Is PR even necessary anymore? Or are audiences too smart for the Bollywood manipulation game?' The original post laid out its argument bluntly, 'Let's be real. Every celeb today has a 'PR strategy.' From airport looks to pap strolls, from 'leaked' relationships to timed breakups, it's all part of the plan.' But the user questioned the effectiveness of these moves in today's media climate, 'But here's the thing — do these PR stunts even work anymore?' Citing examples of newer stars, they added, 'We saw actors like Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani getting massive love without overly manufactured drama. Meanwhile, others are pushing hard with forced couple pairings, bizarre controversy bait, and hyper-glam appearances, and still struggling for relevance.' The user pointed to audience awareness and online scrutiny, 'And now with social media, fans do their own sleuthing. Fake relationships, planted gossip, even random brand shoots — audiences decode it all in real time.' Finally, they posed the question that fuelled the thread, 'Is traditional PR (paparazzi, Page 3 leaks, blind items) still effective or are stars better off being authentic and letting their work speak?' The responses reflected a spectrum of thought. One commenter asserted, 'Pretty much. It is effective. People on Instagram and Facebook are naive and have fallen for their tactics. You can see it in the comments.' Another user provided a strategic perspective, 'Not really. Remember — the common audience isn't thinking of protecting themselves against PR every day, whereas PR people are thinking of manipulating the audiences every day — it's their job. So, there are still lakhs of people who will still fall for PR and regret it after watching movies in theatres or on OTTs (justifying the acquisition price — the very basis why movies get greenlit).' A more cynical voice added, 'Please look around you. This country has many problems. Being 'too smart to fall for PR' is not one of them.' Meanwhile, another user offered historical context, 'People don't understand PR or its purpose. Yes, PR is necessary and has been a thing since ages. You think actors in the 70s, 80s and 90s didn't have PR??? They did, they just didn't have agencies at the time. But PR has always been there and it is an important makeup of the industry and how it runs.' This is true as independent solo publicists existed even before the 90s, till in 1997, Bollywood's first PR agency was launched, bringing in organization and structure to the industry. Some took a critical view of current PR trends, 'Kartik and Kiara genuinely have great chemistry, and I think that's enough for a movie to be successful. But overenthusiastic PR is too much nowadays.' Others addressed how PR achieves visibility even when people claim to see through it, 'The expected result is increased reach. The means to do it don't matter. Even if people are smart enough to catch the PR effort, they're still dumb enough to discuss and engage with that content, thus giving it reach.' There was also this insight, 'Most guys I know IRL wouldn't stop watching an actor/actress's movies just because of being irritated by PR. They'll see if he/she is entertaining enough or not, and then make up their mind to continue watching them or drop them.' Some believed awareness of PR remains niche, 'Nope. The circle that knows or cares about PR is very small, constricted only to this sub and Instagram. The general public/audience is still unaware of it or chooses to ignore it.' And a poignant observation about long-term perception stood out, 'Audiences remember who felt 'real' when the campaign ended, and who felt hollow.' One user even questioned the motives behind the post itself, 'Is this post a part of Ranbir's 'no PR' strategy? Because Kartik and Kiara definitely have PR. In fact, more aggressive PR than others.' Another chimed in with a general truth, 'There's a reason why PR machinery exists in almost every industry. It's because it works.' And perhaps the most practical view was this, 'Yes, it is necessary. Because in India it really doesn't matter how well you act, what the script is, etc. If you're a nobody, nobody will pay a penny to watch you. So you need to occupy mindspace for your movies to work, even if just a little bit. It gets too much and some of the PR antics are dumb and pretty see-through, but people still talk about it. And that's why we still need PR. PR is also needed to curate your image and prop up a personality — something likeable, which might be the polar opposite to the celeb's.' This lively exchange on Bolly Blinds N Gossip reveals that Bollywood PR agencies are far from obsolete. They may be evolving, becoming more transparent — or even more theatrical — but their role remains crucial in an industry that thrives on visibility, perception, and buzz. As one user aptly put it, even bad PR is still engagement. Ultimately, as the debate unfolds, it becomes evident that Bollywood PR agencies continue to wield influence — perhaps not always in obvious ways, but enough to spark conversation, shape perception, and drive interest.
