Hindi
Pak film gets Indian award for thought-provoking theme
NEW DELHI: A Pakistani film, ‘Bol’ by Shoaib Manzoor, has won the best Hindi/Urdu film award from the Lucknow-based civil society Institute for Research and Documentation in Social Sciences (IRDS).
The award has been given for being a topical and thought-provoking film for raising many social issues including the regressive attitude of a male-dominated society. Shoaib Manzoor earlier achieved fame in India with ‘Khuda ke liye’, which also starred Naseeruddin Shah.
The awards have been given to acknowledge and accept the great impact of cinema on Indian socio-cultural life.
Rajeev Khandelwal gets the best male character award for playing Raunak Kaul, the DJ in ‘Soundtrack‘ who battles the inner demons and comes back from the verge of extinction.
Vidya Balan, who essays the role of Reshma alias Silk in the film ‘Dirty Picture’, gets the best female character award for presenting the roller-coaster and controversial life of actress Silk Smitha. The Best director award has been given to Onir for the film ‘I Am‘ for raising many important issues of social concern like child abuse, gay rights, Kashmiri Pandits’ problems and the issue of sperm donation in an intricate but beautiful manner.
The Best story award has been given to ‘Kya Yahi Sach Hai‘ written by Y P Singh, ex IPS officer for being a very genuine and truthful story about governance and policing. The Best song award has been given to “Mauka” from the film ‘Aarakshan‘ written by Prasoon Joshi, for depicting the contradictory positions being taken on reservation by its opponents and supporters.
The awards were picked by a Jury headed by social activist and IPS officer Amitabh Thakur along with others.
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
