Hindi
UTV’s Heroine goes on floors
MUMBAI: The shooting of UTV Motion Pictures‘ Madhur Bhandarkar directed Kareena Kapoor-starrer Heroine got underway over the weekend.
Heroine is an insider‘s account of a heroine on top of the movie business today. The film will have Kapoor essaying the character of a superstar in B-town and her journey.
Expressing his happiness on the launch of the shoot, UTV Motion Pictures CEO Siddharth Roy Kapur said, “Heroine is one of the most anticipated movies of 2012 and for all of us associated with it. That means that a lot of hard work over the next few months to meet the massive audience expectations. With an excellent script, a talented director at the top of his game and a superb cast and crew, we‘re confident we‘ll be up to the challenge!”
It may be noted that UTV and Bhandarkar are associating again after their film Fashion swept the box office and major film awards winning National Awards and Filmfares for its lead actresses Priyanka Chopra and Kangna Ranaut.
The project also marks 10 years of Bhandarkar‘s critical and commercial success in which he made cult films and entertainers like Chandni Bar, Satta, Page 3, Corporate, Fashion and Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji.
Bhandarkar said, “I‘m delighted that I‘m making Heroine with UTV. We had a great experience of working together during Fashion and we are taking this beautiful relationship forward. Heroine is a dream project for me about an industry in which I have lived my dreams and it will be my biggest film to date.”
It may be noted that Arjun Rampal has been paired in the role of a superstar opposite Kareena while Randeep Hooda and Shahana Goswami play supporting roles.
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
