Hindi
Dismal weekend at the Box Office
MUMBAI: The past weekend has proved to be dismal for the box office with three releases, which all vie for the worst performer tag. Khamoshiyan turns out to be a drab affair with the Bhatt touch visible only in its soundtrack. The film got poor word of mouth and managed to collect just Rs 5.75 crore in its opening weekend.
Rahashya may be based on a real life, well documented double murder case, but gets just about as much attention from moviegoers as yesterday’s headline. And, this story has become stale by all standards. The film opened to a very poor response with no hope of catching up despite being a well-made film. The film had a poor opening weekend with about Rs 20 lakh.
Hawaizaada, a biopic of a maverick self-styled scientist from Maharashtra, starring Ayushmann Khurrana, from which the trade had some hope, comes a cropper. The film comes across as badly scripted and directed one lacking consistency and having no sense of length. A boring fare, the film suffered further after being slaughtered by critics as well as on social media. The poor collections reflect this as the film could manage mere Rs 1.8 crore over its first weekend. It failed to touch Rs 1 crore figure on any of the three days over the weekend.
Baby has not lived up to the hype created in the media before release. The film had way too much similarity in story and substance with a couple of recent films but was worse than them. The film is too verbose with plans of action rather than action itself which is what people want to see from a spy movie. The film collected Rs 52.1 crore in its first week. With three very poor oppositions in second week, the film gets a chance to reduce its losses.
I (dubbed) has collected Rs 1.2 crore in its second week to take its two week total to 11.3 crore. On the other hand, Dolly Ki Doli is a loser facing rejection from day one. The film manages to end its first week with figures of Rs 11.9 crore. Alone adds Rs 2.25 crore in its second week to take its two week tally to Rs 19.5 crore.
PK nears the end of its run at the box office as the film adds Rs 1.3 crore in its sixth week to take its six week total to Rs 329.6 crore.
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
