Hindi
UTV announces four-movie slate for Q4 release
MUMBAI: UTV Motion Pictures said Tuesday it would release a slate of four films for the fourth-quarter of this fiscal ended 31 March 2010.
UTV will kick off the New Year with Chance Pe Dance, a movie directed by Ken Ghosh, that will release on 15 January.
Next to follow will be India‘s official entry to the Oscars this year. Harishchandrachi Factory,,directed by Paresh Mokashi, will hit the screens on 22 January. The movie is co-produced by UTV production along with Paprika Media and Mayasabha.
Peter Gaya Kaam Se, starring Rajeev Khandelwal and Lekha Washington, is scheduled for a March 2010 release. The same month will also see the release of Paan Singh Tomar.
Other films to be released by UTV later in the year include Prakash Jha‘s Raajneeti, Sanjay Leela Bhansali‘s Guzarish, Anees Bazmee‘s Thank You, Rajkumar Gupta‘s No One Killed Jessica, Vishal Bhardwaj‘s Ek Bataa Saat and Aamir Khan Productions‘ Delhi Belly and Peepli Live.
2010-11 will also see UTV release two animation films – Arjun, The Warrior Prince and Alibaba & the 41 Thieves – and one kids film Chillar Party.
Says UTV Motion Pictures CEO Siddharth Roy Kapur, “While 2009 has been a low year for the film industry in general, we released some interesting films which etched themselves in the minds of the audience. Dev.D, Kaminey and Wake Up Sid created new benchmarks for what can now be perceived as commercial cinema. Our slate for 2010 promises to be a very entertaining mix.”
Among the releases of UTV in 2009 were films like Delhi 6, Kurbaan, What‘s Your Rashee, Phir Kabhi, Main Aurr Mrs Khanna and Telugu and Tamil releases of remake of A Wednesday.
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
