Hindi
Cutting Chai to release on 18 November
MUMBAI: Salt N Pepper Entertainment is all set to release its film, Cutting Chai, on 18 November.
Produced by Govardhan Reddy Maane and Vijay Varma Pakalapatti, the film delves into the psyche of the youth who may survive on cutting tea but are ready to conquer the world. It is a story of four friends. While one works in a call centre, the second is in the film industry, the third is a software engineer and the fourth a D.J. who wants to make it big in the music world.
Says Vijay Varma, producer of the film, “It has all the ingredients which touch today‘s youth life. Filled with funny moments, the film also explores today‘s youth ambition and their problems. Very soon, we are going to make another film with a big star cast.”
Choreographer turned director Flavin Luicien, who has worked hard on his directorial debut, says, “The audience will identify themselves with the characters of the film and will feel as if it‘s their life being shown on the screen.”
The film has been produced under the banner of Salt n Pepper Entertainment in association with Filmy Box and Pandros Box.
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
