Hindi
T-Series conducts anti-piracy raid at Andheri railway station
MUMBAI: No one can deny that there are a couple of illegal stalls outside the Andheri railway station catering to pirated discs.
T-Series, acting on a tip-off, in association with the Intellectual Property Cell of the Economic Offence Wing, Mumbai Police, helped raid a stall at the Andheri railway station recently.
The raid, conducted under the supervision of Joint Commissioner of Police (crime branch) Rakesh Maria and DCP Enforcement Sheela Sahil, was headed by the anti-piracy cell of T-Series Vijay Kamble and his team.
The seized pirated discs included those of Wanted, Blue, Main Aurr Mrs Khanna, London Dreams as well as software and MP3 CDs.
Six people who were caught red handed trading these discs were taken to police custody. The accused were booked under Sections 51, 52(A), 63, 68(A) of Copyright Act along with sections 292(2) A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for sale of obscene material and section 420 of IPC.
The seizure accounted for 1855 Hindi film discs, 2645 English film discs, 490 Marathi film discs, 2040 software discs, 1040 MP3s song CDs and 490 pornographic movie discs and the value of the seized materials was to the tune of Rs 0.4 million.
Said T-Series creative director Divya Khosla Kumar, “We have always been a serious player in this industry and to make music work among the masses. It is important that it makes money for the music companies who invest so much on songs and song picturisations.
“The current matter is subjudice and hence, we will not be able to comment on it.”
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
