Hindi
IndiaCast signs multi-year agreement with Spuul
MUMBAI: Over 60 percent current and upcoming Hindi and regional movies from the library of Viacom18 Motion Pictures, Colors and Eenadu Television will now be available for worldwide streaming on one of the most popular online streaming service for Indian movies and TV shows- Spuul; IndiaCast media distribution Pvt Ltd, the joint venture between TV18 and Viacom18 has signed a multi-year worldwide agreement with the online service.
Starting this week, movie buffs can enjoy latest and evergreen blockbusters such as Inkaar, Oh My God and Jab We Met along with several regional hits such as Samanyudu, on their computers and mobile devices, with Spuul. Upcoming new releases in 2013 will also be available for worldwide streaming on Spuul as they are released in the market.
Spuul CEO India Prakash Ramchandani says: "Spuul is proud to offer Viacom18‘s successful and award-winning films to our fast growing user base", commenting further, he says, "We are constantly working to expand our range of great Indian movies, in different languages, so that users always find something appealing to watch."
Spuul was founded by seasoned entrepreneurs including Sudesh Iyer, founder of Sony Entertainment TV, and S. Mohan, founder of Palo Alto-based Accellion, buUuk and a number of other technology and venture companies and offers Specials that are pay-per-view movies and a Premium monthly subscription option.
Online video is seeing a dramatic growth, with 3.7 million videos consumed every month in India according to comScore Inc. With such an attractive online viewership, Spuul offers the producers the required global reach creating new avenues for not just small budget movies but also new blockbusters.
Speaking on the tie up with Spuul,IndiaCast group CEO Anuj Gandhi says: "The association between IndiaCast and Spuul acts as a value addition for both the parties. Watching movies online lets the viewer‘s exercise this option at their own convenience. Spuul has a huge base of film and TV enthusiasts who now with this association will be able to choose from IndiaCast‘s plethora of commercial and regional movies, enriching the viewer experience."
Other IndiaCast movies on Spuul include Blood Money, Bitoo Boss, Golmaal Returns & Aiyya, regional titles dubbed in Hindi such as Vishwa – The He Man, Ek Sirfarosh – The Brave Heart and select Telegu films such as Simhadri and Me Sreyobhilashi – now available to stream immediately on all pcs, iOS and Android mobile devices.
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
