Hindi
Madholal Keep Walking to show at Asian Film Festival
MUMBAI: Madholal Keep Walking (A song of a common man), a Hindi feature film, written and directed by Jai Tank, has been nominated for the 8th Third Eye Asian Film Festival (AFF) to be held in Mumbai from 4 December.
Over 100 feature and short films from 24 countries like Turkey and Japan to name a few are participating in this week- long fest.
Madholal is not like the other films which are only based on the train blast. The focus is on the resilience of the human spirit and the manner in which Madholal comes to terms with his fate.
The film features Subrat Dutta as Madholal Dubey, a Kolkata-based theatre actor who won the Best Actor award in the 8th Osian Cinefan Festival 2006 for the Bengali film Bibar (Calcutta unabashed).
His last Bengali movie Chaturanga (four chapters) was shown in more than 50 film festivals.
The aim of the Asian Film Festival is to bridge the gap between the Asian Film fraternities and promote Asian cinema
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
