Hindi
Kurbaan fails to allure
MUMBAI: The pre-release hype of Karan Johar‘s Kurbaan was so much that people presumed it to be the biggest hit of the year. On the contrary, the film opened below expectations.
Going by the paid previews held a day earlier, no one could even guess that the film would fare dismally once it opened in regular shows.
The collections of the first day was around 55-60 per cent at multiplexes while in single-screens it was between 35 to 40 per cent. The film, a UTV release, did a net business of approximately Rs 40 million on day one in India with the Bombay territory contributing Rs 15 million.
Reacting to the box-office performance of Kurbaan in his multiplex, Fun Cinema COO Vishal Kapur said, “While the response to the paid preview was very good all over, the opening has not been all that good; the reactions not being very positive. Though the weekend occupancy was on the higher side, to expect the same from Monday to Thursday was a bit dicey.”
Reacting to the collections over the weekend, trade analyst Amod Mehra says, “No one wants to see films on terrorism anymore. Yes we had New York in between, but the film was not publicized as a film based on terrorism. On the other hand, the Dharma Productions film was publicised in a wrong manner.”
Said Cinemax senior vice president Devang Sampat, “Our expectations to rake in around 85 to 90 per cent collections went awry on Sunday when we recorded just 50 per cent sales.”
Come Monday, the business fell 55 per cent lower than that recorded on Friday and the release of Venus Records & Tapes‘ De Dana Dan next week will impact further business of Kurbaan.
In the overseas market too, the film has under-performed in the three key markets of UK, US and Australia.
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
