Hindi
Paa set to release in 700 screens worldwide
MUMBAI: Paa, an AB Corp presentation in association with Reliance Big Pictures, is set to cast an ‘Auro‘ spell when it releases in 700 screens worldwide on 4 December.
Reliance Big Pictures will release the film in 20 countries worldwide including India, UK, US, Canada, UAE, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and many others.
The film has followed a week-on-week 360 degree marketing and promotion campaign that kick-started with an innovative teaser and progressed to a novel and eye-catching promotion in multiplexes with Auro‘s on-screen photo slides that read ‘Please stand up for the national anthem or else I will tell my Paa‘, ‘Please switch off your mobile phone or else I will tell my Paa‘ and ‘Don‘t dirty the theatre or I‘ll tell my Paa‘ poster on trash cans.
There have been a couple of promotions that have been pressed into operation.
Idea Cellular has tied up with Paa for an activity-based on ‘Talk to Auro‘ concept, wherein callers can leave messages for Auro on an Idea number and in return receive calls from Auro on a pre-determined date. This will be promoted through a co-branded TV advertisement. Apart from this, ring back tones in Auro‘s voice and other value-added services too are available on the network.
Bajaj Allianz has tied up with the film for an integrated TV advertisement on ‘Child Plans‘ that has been interspersed with the film‘s promos and is currently on air on 24 prime television channels.
On November 14, Paa‘s TV promos carried a special message wishing all viewers Happy Children‘s Day and a mall activation invited father‘s with their children for day-long fun-filled activities.
Big FM is on board as the film‘s radio partner. To maintain the essence of the central character, the 13-year-old Auro has been speaking as himself to all radio and TV interactions while Abhishek Bachchan has been dressing up in his Paa get- up of a white kurta pyjama for all media interactions.
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
