Hindi
Hindi remake of Bengali film high on special effects
MUMBAI: First-time producer Avik Bagchi, who runs the diversified Prayag Group, is making a Hindi remake of a Bengali film that will be high on special effects. And to give the movie big stars he has signed up Sanjay Dutt and Bipasha Basu to star in the Hindi version of an upcoming Bengali wildlife thriller film, Jole Jongole.
The film, directed by veteran Nitish Roy, will have Dutt play a mad scientist who creates a genetically evolved crocodile with individual intelligence but becomes a target of a gang of hunters wanting to capture the unique reptile for their lucrative business.
The Bollywood duo will shoot at a film city in the Maoist-infested Jungelmahal area of West Midnapore district where a giant 100 foot long crocodile has been created using pyrotechnics and CGI.
This will be the first venture from Tollywood where such advanced digital technology and special effects have been used. The crocodile is a lovable one and is blessed with intelligence just like dolphins, Bagchi averred.
The unconventional take on the reptile is an attempt to challenge the crocodile‘s image of a stealthy cold-blooded predator and create awareness about the conservation of our wildlife habitat, added Bagchi.
Titled Jole Jongole in Bengali, the film has Mithun Chakraborty essaying the lead role along with Ashish Vidyarthi and Tinnu Anand.
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
