Hindi
PVR Q1 net Rs 78.1 mn vs loss in previous quarter
MUMBAI: Cinema exhibitor PVR Limited returned to profits in the first quarter ended 30 June after a loss in the preceding quarter ended 31 March 2012.
PVR said its net profit in the first quarter was Rs 78.1 million against a loss of Rs 132.4 million in the preceding quarter. The net profit in the first quarter was down nearly 46 per cent from Rs 144.2 million a year earlier.
The company‘s consolidated revenues for the first quarter were up 51 per cent to Rs 1.77 billion from Rs. 1.17 billion a year earlier.
Consolidated EBITDA for the quarter was Rs. 346 million, up 52 per cent from Rs 227.7 million a year earlier.
Commenting on the results, PVR Ltd chairman cum MD Ajay Bijli said, “The good results is a function of the company‘s long term location strategy to partner in best mall developments in the country, its unique design philosophy, strong customer focus and a unique brand positioning. We are encouraged by the robust growth in footfalls and remain buoyant regarding the potential for box office success for the remainder of FY 2012-13.
The standalone revenues from exhibition/production business increased to Rs 1.59 billion from Rs 1.04 billion in the same period last year, up by 52 per cent. EBITDA for the quarter was Rs. 334.4 million as compared to Rs 195.4 million in corresponding period of last year, up by 71 per cent.
Its net profit for the first quarter was Rs 79.8 million down from Rs 224.7 million a year earlier and against a net loss of Rs 148.1 million in preceding quarter ended March 31, 2012.
The company said its exhibition business showed a growth of 33 per cent in the overall revenues driven by strong box office performance and food & beverage revenues.
During the quarter under review and subsequent period the company added 13 screens at Jalandhar, Ujjain and Ludhiana. The company at present operates 41 properties with 179 screens in 24 cities across the country.
The company has significant expansion plans and intends to add another 69 screens in the remainder of 2012-13 in key markets like Pune, Bangalore, Nagpur, Mumbai, Mysore, Bilaspur, Panipat, Kolkata and Vijayawada.
The company‘s subsidiary PVR bluO is also setting up bowling centers across the country with four new centers with 80 lanes slated to open in FY 2012-13.
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
