Hindi
Box Office: ‘Dilwale’ leads with Rs 96.3 crore; ‘Bajirao Mastani’ tots Rs 81.8 crore
MUMBAI: There’s been a media created hype about the box office race between the two big releases of 18 December viz Dilwale and Bajirao Mastani. A film can’t be a hit or a box office success just because it is catching up with another film! The media has no sense of investment versus returns. The media believes in a Rs 100 crore film not realising that even at Rs 200 crore, a film like Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo will not cover its investments. To carry on this count, both Dilwale and Bajirao Mastani are yet far behind their recovery targets.
Bajirao Mastani is a hugely costly film needing over Rs 300 crore worldwide for recovery. The film’s best performance comes from Western India while, otherwise, it has been faring reasonably well only at select multiplexes. It has a few takers at single screens at B and C town cinemas. The film has ended its first week with Rs 81.8 crore.
Dilwale, on the other hand, faced a lot of resistance because of the film’s producer and star’s untimely comment on the country’s character. That made bad business sense. Its lack of single screen bookings also marred its prospects to some extent. The film suffered on both counts. There were calls for boycott by various organisations. Yet, the film got a respectable opening but could not gather pace thereafter. The movie has been sold to local distributors for a huge consideration. Delhi Punjab, for instance for Rs 35 crore; CP for Rs 7.5 crore and such guys tend to lose badly.
While the attention was being diverted to the race between two films, the fact remains that, even with its tally being a little ahead of Bajirao Mastani, Dilwale does not amount to much on its own either. The film opened with fair collections on Friday with Rs 22 crore and ended its first week run with Rs 96.3 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
