Hindi
Alia discovers the unseen India
MUMBAI: They don’t call acting the best profession for no reason. There’s something about it that fascinates many. And one of the most important is that while donning different roles, an actor gets to learn a lot of new things. Something similar happened to Alia Bhatt while shooting for Imtiaz Ali’s Highway.
Presented by Sajid Nadiadwala and starring Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda, the film traverses six states of north India and captures the landscape of the different regions as it goes along. The makers have come up with Highway Diaries – short video snippets that capture the journey of the film and all the exciting experiences that the cast and crew had during its making.
The latest episode of Highway Diaries titled Sambhar Salt Pan, Alia is seen shooting for the film in a salt factory in Sambhar (Rajasthan) along with other actors of the film. Born and brought up in a city like Mumbai, the world of Sambhar where anything and everything has more than a pinch of salt was a revelation for the young star.
“Highway took me to all these amazing places that I probably wouldn’t have ever seen otherwise. Sambhar, the salt factory, was the most beautiful and the most weird experience for me. I celebrated my birthday there as well. In many ways, I think it was here that I truly started feeling like Veera (her character in the film),” said Alia in a release.
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
