Hindi
Shakal Pe Mat Ja is a formula for boredom
MUMBAI: The idea is to take a contemporary subject, turn it into a funny film and let the heroes come out with flying colours in true filmy style. There is youth and there is enthusiasm; however lack of experience tells on the outcome.
Shubh, Chitrak Bandopadhyay, Harsh Parekh and Pratik Katare are taking pictures at Delhi airport. They are arrested as it is a restricted zone and shooting is illegal. The police suspect them of being terrorists and are later convinced of it. Police officer Raghuveer Yadav and anti-terrorist officer Saurabh Shukla are in charge of the case and the interaction between the lot is meant to be funny, but it does not work most of the time with their best idea of comedy being jokes about breaking wind, which is overstretched.
The second half about boys foiling a real plan to bomb the airport is shoddy and fails to excite. With not much of a story to work with, poor scripting and about 140 minutes of running time, the film is a formula for boredom.
As for performances, the four boys rate from passable to pathetic; the veterans, Saurabh Shukla and Raghuveer Yadav, Mushtaq Khan and Zakir Hussain are no help either.
Shubh, who directs the film besides playing lead, has no inkling of the craft. His approach and execution is amateur at best. Among other aspects, music is below par; lyrics are uninspiring; cinematography is average.
Shakal Pe Mat Ja is a total and utter waste of resources.
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
