Hindi
Box Office: A disastrous week for film exhibitors
MUMBAI: It has been another disastrous week at the cinema halls and the wait is now on for Diwali week releases. All the releases failed to find audiences and faced the no-audience-no-show situation. The films released a week earlier were faced with the similar fate as well.
*31st October, a film about the 1984 Sikh genocide of Delhi; My Father Iqbal, a film about an honest and patriotic Kashmiri who chooses to die rather than betray the country and Ek Tera Saath, a film about palace intrigues with a dash of the supernatural, registered between Rs. 1 to Rs 10 lakh opening day figures. These films will only add to their production cost even post release as they won’t cover the distribution costs such as digital and promotion.
* Beiimaan Love: Trying to cash in on Sunny Leone falls flat as her popularity, sans acting talent, seems to have worn thin. After a poor opening weekend, the film collects Rs. 1.9 crore for its first week.
*Saat Uchakkey: Despite many talented artistes on the roster, suffers due to a poor screenplay and poorer direction. The actors end up mouthing cuss words and jumping around the screen with little to deliver. The film collects Rs. 1.6 crore in its first week.
*Anna: A biopic on the anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare manages to collect about Rs. 15 lakh in its first week.
*Fuddu: It collects about Rs. 20 lakh in its first week.
*Motu Patlu: King of Kings (Animation 3-D): It stands out among a horde of poor films as kids take to it at select multiplexes only. The film collects Rs. 2.9 crore in its first week.
*Mirzya: It continues its poor run at the box office adding just Rs. 40 lakh in its second week taking its two-week collections to Rs. 8.8 crore.
*Tutak Tutak Tutiya collects Rs. 15 lakh in its second week taking its two-week total to Rs. 2.9 crore.
*M S Dhoni: The Untold Story continues its good run in the third week as other weak new releases give it a free run at the box office. The film collects Rs. 8.4 crore to take its three-week total to Rs. 115.8 crore.
*Pink collects Rs. 40 lakh in its fifth week, taking its five-week total to Rs. 67.4 crore.
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
