Hindi
Actress Sharmila Tagore supports Irom Sharmila’s struggle against AFSPA
MUMBAI: Today is the hearing date of Sharmila’s court case against armed forces special powers act (Afspa) and as she’s summoned by the government of Manipur which claims that due to lack of funds, Irom Sharmila cannot be flown to Delhi for her court case today.
At a panel discussion event held in the city last evening, Bollywood actor Sharmila Tagore said, “I am ashamed at myself for not being aware of the cause until five years ago. I am completely supportive of the cause Irom has been fighting for over a decade now. And today is the day when Afspa completes fifty-five years of existence in India. Let us come together as a nation to express our solidarity towards her cause.”
The panel discussion was held to honour the on-going efforts of Irom Sharmila captured by author Minnie Vaid in her book ‘Iron Irom, Two Journeys’ published by Rajpal and Sons.
Author Minnie Vaid said, “I want everybody to join this cause, not only you and me but everybody to be aware of the cause, the struggle of Irom, hence her journey as a fighter in the form of a book.”
Human Rights Alert (HRA), founder and director Panelist Babloo Loitongbam, expressed that “Irom received awards and accolades from within the country and even abroad, but she did not want to become an icon. She wanted to be portrayed as an ordinary individual because she was seen as an extraordinary person that she would not be seen as a symbol of sacrifice.”
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
