Hindi
Karnataka HC stays entertainment tax order on Kannada films
BANGALORE: A division bench of the Karnataka High Court has stayed the operation of a 17 September 2008 order of a single bench, quashing a provisio of Section 4 of the Karnataka Entertainment Tax Act 1958. Exhibitors of Kannada will now have to pay Rs 48 per show instead of Rs 118.
The exhibition of non-Kannada films, however, will still attract an entertainment tax of Rs 118.
The provisio allowed the state to levy entertainment tax for the state’s languages – notably Kannada, Konkani, Kodava, Tulu and Banjara and a different one for exhibiting films of other languages in Karnataka.
Contesting that the Kannada film industry was small and ill-equipped to compete with films of other languages, the State had filed an appeal, stating that by virtue of the earlier single bench order, it was forced to collect Rs 118 per show irrespective of the language of a film.
The State earns about Rs 560 million annually by way of entertainment tax from 790 theatres. Twenty nine per cent of the revenue comes from theatres in Bangalore.
An Ernst & Young report pegged the revenue of the Kannada film industry for FY 2009 at just about Rs 500 million, a little more than 2 per cent of the Rs 17.73 billion revenues earned by the South Indian Film industry made up of the four states – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Hindi
Shekhar Suman opens acting academy in Mumbai
The veteran actor-presenter launches SSFA, promising immersive, mentorship-led training for aspiring actors and storytellers
Mumbai: Forty years in front of the camera, and Shekhar Suman still isn’t done. The actor, host, writer and director, one of Indian entertainment’s most restless polymaths, is now training his sights on the next generation, launching the Shekhar Suman Film Academy (SSFA) in Mumbai on 22nd April 2026. Registrations for the inaugural batch are already open.
SSFA pitches itself squarely against formula-driven acting schools, leading with an intensive three-month programme that Suman says he personally designed and will largely conduct himself. The curriculum blends voice and speech work, emotional access, body awareness and camera technique with the Linklater Voice Method, film language and on-set discipline, and rounds off with a student film, giving trainees their first taste of a real set.
Masterclasses with actors, casting directors and filmmakers sit alongside the core course. The academy is conceived as a platform that will eventually sprawl into screenwriting, direction, cinematography, music production and post-production: a full creative ecosystem rather than a single acting school.
“For me, this academy is not just an institution. It is a very personal way of giving back to the craft that has given me everything,” said Suman. “Over the years, acting has taught me discipline, imagination, resilience, and the importance of truth in performance. Through this academy, I hope to create something that goes beyond training and becomes a true creative journey for every student who walks in.”
Behind the scenes, the academy is backed by GBM Studios. Dharmesh Sangani, founder and visionary, is the driving force, bringing what the academy describes as “a focused approach to creating meaningful opportunities within the industry.” Adhyayan Suman, founder and director and Shekhar’s son, adds a performer’s perspective honed across acting, music and direction. Ekant Babani, partner and chief operating officer, handles strategy and operations.
Entry is deliberately low-barrier. No prior training is needed: applicants sit a basic self-audition test, shifting the focus firmly to potential rather than polish. The academy says it aims to stay accessible while delivering a premium, hands-on experience.
In a country where acting schools multiply almost as fast as OTT platforms, Suman’s personal stamp and his willingness to stand in the room and teach may be the sharpest edge SSFA has. For those ready to test that promise, the curtain is already up. Apply at shekharsumanfilmacademy.com
