Timesexclusive super five

Mahie Gill danced her heart out in 'Gang of Ghosts'

Mumbai, Feb 12: Mahie Gill, who plays the ghost of an actress in "Gang of Ghosts", says she loved shooting for the movie as she got proper dance numbers in it.
The actress, who shook a leg in films like "Gulaal" and "Bullett Raja", said: "I have been very fond of dancing, but I never got to dance in any of my films. Music was always in the background."
"But in this film we have four to five songs. I have danced a lot in it and I have also done lip sync. It was fun," the 38-year-old told reporters Tuesday at the promo launch of the film.
Directed by Satish Kaushik, "Gang of Ghosts" is a remake of Bengali film "Bhooter Bhabishyat". "I am playing Manoranjana Kumari, who was an actress in the 1950s, and she talks with nasal twang. Because she is an actress and a dancer, she always has that style of walking and talking," Mahie said.
Scheduled for a March 12 release, the film's impressive cast has names like Anupam Kher, Jackie Shroff, Sharman Joshi, Rajpal Yadav, Saurabh Shukla and newcomer Meera Chopra.


Times OOH unveils advt, sponsorship options at Mumbai Metro
Outdoor media company, Times OOH today unveiled various advertising and sponsorship options available at Mumbai Metro.

Times Innovative Media (TIM), a subsidiary of Bennett Coleman & Co that operates its out-of-home media business under the brand 'Times OOH', had bagged the advertisement rights from 'Mumbai Metro One' in December last for a period of 15 years.

"Innovative advertising and sponsorship options have the potential to create a huge impact for any brand. It's a golden opportunity for brands to take advantage of this novel advertising and sponsorship format. Imagine the wide audience base that this opportunity will present as the Mumbai Metro is slated to connect East with West," Times OOH MD Sunder Hemrajani said here at an event.

The contract includes various advertising options available at Mumbai Metro, like station corridors, pillars, train wraps, train interiors, sponsorship opportunities and a state-of-the art digital network that will be installed by TIM.

Times OOH showcased some sponsorship options like stations naming rights, network of 147 units high definition digital screens, train wraps among others.

The company first won the advertising rights at Mumbai and Delhi Airports in 2007, and went on to win the 20-year contract to manage advertising space in T3 terminal at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport in 2010 and an 11-year contract at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai in 2013.

"There is a huge scope in the transport segment for out-of-home media, especially when new investments are coming in the sector and more projects being undertaken. We already have a couple of major projects and now we are also looking at metro projects in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai," he added.

Post 'Bigg Boss', it's a busy life for Andy

Mumbai, Feb 12: Wacky video jockey Andy says his life after "Bigg Boss Saath-7" has been "phenomenal" as he has been getting more work than ever.
"My life after 'Bigg Boss' has been phenomenal, great and everything nice. There has been so much love for me. I have received so much warmth and people want to see more of me," said Andy, who will now be seen as the host of "India's Got Talent 5".
"I have been getting good work after 'Bigg Boss' and have a jam-packed schedule," he said.
Andy is also in touch with his "Bigg Boss Saath-7" co-contenders. "I have been in touch with everyone including Armaan (Kohli), Tanisha (Mukherjee), Sangram (Singh) and Elli (Avram).
"I have hung out with Tanisha and Armaan many times and have discovered new sides of their personalities, which are even better. Elli is a very sweet person and Sangram and I have also been in touch," he said.

Japan’s Outsourcing Inc acquires majority stake in India’s Alp Consulting
As another evidence to the growing interest of the world in India’s rising employment market, Japan-based staffing firm Outsourcing Inc has acquired the majority stake in Alp Consulting, a Bangalore-based hiring firm which has provided employment to more than 4,000 employees in India. Outsourcing Inc paid $5 million which is equivalent to around 31.2 crores in Indian rupees for 51% stake in Alp.

History of Alp Consulting

Alp Consulting was set up in 1996 to provide staffing and human resources solutions to IT companies. It grew rapidly and spread its operations across six major cities in India – Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Noida and Pune. When Outsourcing Inc started scouting for acquisitions in India last year, Alp Consulting’s name came up as one of the most lucrative candidates.

Outsourcing CEO expects Indian employment market to grow rapidly in future

When asked about his expectations from the Indian market, Outsourcing Inc CEO Haruhiko Doi said “Unlike Japan, India’s working population is set to grow up to 240 million in the next 20 years. We look forward to growing at a fast clip.” According to the data provided by Indian Staffing Federation, India is the third largest market for staffing services in the world behind China and Brazil. The current global staffing market value is estimated at a mighty $180 billion which is almost equal to INR 11.23 lakh crores.

Acquisition in tune with Japanese traditions

The deal between Outsourcing Inc and Alp Consulting valued Alp at 61 crore Indian rupees which is higher than what most US-based or Europe-based companies would have estimated. But Japanese companies are known to value companies at a higher rate than others. Ajit Isaac, the CEO of Ikya Human Capital Solutions, says “Japanese companies have been traditionally valuing companies at higher multiples than their United States and European counterparts. May be it’s the promise they see in the market”. Isaac had sold his company PeopleOne Consulting to Swiss staffing major Adecco in 2008 and bought Hyderabad-based hiring firm Magna Infotech for 100 crore Indian rupees in 2010.

Plans for the near future

The acquisition was done with the immediate goal of meeting the staffing and outsourcing needs for the Japanese MNC’s which are rapidly expanding operations in India. Outsourcing Inc currently provides services to 17 Japanese MNC’s and 19 overseas firms. Some of its clients are the Japanese giants like Suzuki, Toyota and Soni.
With this deal, Outsourcing Inc plans to start reaping the benefits of the already large and continuously growing Indian staffing market.


IPL 7 auction: Eight IPL franchises now left with Rs 62 crore

Bangalore: After an exciting first day of bidding, all the eight franchises are now left with a total purse of Rs.62 crore to shape their team finally when the players' auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) resumes Thursday.

Kolkata Knight Riders have to buy six players and are left with Rs. 9 crore while Delhi Daredevils have to buy three players with Rs.8.6 crore in their kitty.

Kings XI have to buy four players and are left with Rs.14.2 crore while Chennai Super Kings have to buy three players with Rs.2.9 crore.

Mumbai Indians have to buy six players and they are left with Rs.5.15 crore while Royal Challengers have to buy four players with Rs.1.8 crore. Sunrisers Hyderabad have Rs.8.4 crore and have to buy three players and Rajasthan Royals have to buy five players with Rs.12.10 crore that is left with them.