Moves and wins: Week of 28 July

Astra Studios launched by Hombale and Perpetual Capital

Astra Studios has been launched with backing from Hombale Group and Perpetual Capital. The studio is founded by Biren Ghose, RK Chand, Rajarajan Ramakrishnan and Shajy Thomas—former senior executives at MPC, The Mill and Technicolor India. It will focus on integrating creative technology with storytelling across films, series, and brand campaigns. Astra’s capabilities span VFX, generative AI, immersive media, and animation for both streaming and theatrical releases. The company also plans to develop global IPs and original character universes. Hombale Group aims to leverage Astra’s offerings to scale its content franchises across platforms using emerging technologies.

Red Dot Representations partners with Travel Lounge to promote luxury travel in Mauritius

Red Dot Representations has partnered with Mauritius-based Travel Lounge Leisure & Tours to enhance the island’s positioning as a luxury MICE and leisure destination for Indian and global travellers. The collaboration aims to offer curated, sustainable travel experiences by leveraging Travel Lounge’s strong local expertise and Red Dot’s extensive trade network. With Mauritius' appeal as a year-round tropical getaway, the partnership will focus on driving awareness and conversions across new traveller segments, while delivering real-time support to trade partners.

Karma Global appoints Concept PR as communications partner

Karma Management Global Consulting Solutions has appointed Concept PR India Ltd. as its official public relations communications partner. The partnership aims to strengthen Karma Global’s brand visibility and align its narrative across platforms by leveraging Concept PR’s strategic communication expertise. As a labour law and compliance firm with a tech-driven approach, Karma Global seeks to amplify its mission of simplifying workforce governance. Concept PR will support the brand in reaching key stakeholders and enhancing its market presence in India and globally.

Raffles Udaipur appoints Guneeta Duggal as director of sales and marketing

Raffles Udaipur has appointed Guneeta Duggal as director of sales and marketing, bringing over 20 years of experience in luxury hospitality. Duggal will lead the hotel’s sales and marketing strategy to drive growth, elevate guest engagement, and strengthen brand positioning. She joins from JW Marriott Mussoorie, where she delivered record financial performance and led award-winning campaigns. Her career includes senior roles across Marriott International, Starwood Hotels, and Taj Hotels, overseeing global portfolios and strategic partnerships across segments. In her new role, she will focus on enhancing Raffles Udaipur’s market presence and personalised guest experiences.

SW Network wins creative mandate for Anytime Fitness India

SW Network has secured the creative mandate for Anytime Fitness India, the country’s leading fitness chain and part of the world’s largest gym franchise. The agency will lead the brand’s creative strategy and digital communications, focusing on building a stronger content ecosystem and launching community-driven campaigns that highlight consistency and inclusivity in fitness. With over 5,500 clubs globally, Anytime Fitness aims to deepen its India presence through a refreshed, digital-first narrative. The partnership has already begun with SW Network developing a series of upcoming digital campaigns tailored to modern wellness culture.

Truecaller Ads appoints Saraswati Agarwal to lead sales in Middle East and Africa

Truecaller has announced the appointment of Saraswati Agarwal as regional sales head for ad solutions in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), signalling a stronger focus on expanding its advertising business in the region. With over 15 years of experience across digital, luxury, and media sectors at firms including Bloomberg and CNN, Agarwal is tasked with scaling Truecaller’s presence and delivering innovative, performance-led ad solutions. The MEA region, marked by growing smartphone use and digital advertising adoption, is a key growth market for Truecaller Ads, which currently serves 5 billion impressions daily. The platform plans to deepen local partnerships and tap into the region’s young, digital-first demographic with immersive ad formats integrated into its communications app.