Hindi
Box Office : ‘Great Grand Masti’ fails; ‘Sultan’ continues its rule
MUMBAI: Great Grand Masti turns out to be one massive PJ; on its makers really, as the moviegoers rejected it from day one, show one. This is one film that fails to cash in on the brand equity built by its previous two installments, Masti and Grand Masti, both of which had fared reasonably well.
Lacking a single moment of fun and laughter, original or borrowed, the film opens to poor houses and ends its opening weekend with a poor 7.8 crore.
*The long wait by the exhibition trade, especially the multiplex chains who need to feed multiple screens at each property every week, finally fructifies with Salman Khan’s Eid ul Fitr release, Sultan. This Salman film also justifies the trade’s faith in his films.
Sultan was planned to release on the Eid day but, Eid falling one day later did not in any way affect the film’s opening day draw, which was also thanks partly to an unprecedented advance booking and also to enhanced admission rates as the film closed its day one with 36.54 crore. It went ahead to end its five day extended weekend with 180.36 crore and the nine day week with 229.16 crore mark.
The film maintained well in its second week, which is as good as an open week with virtually no opposition from the solo release of the week, Great Grand Masti. It has added 34.07 crore during its second weekend to take its 12 day tally to 263.23 crore.
Rest of the inconsequential films, released during the Ramzan month and before that, have generally been losers.
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
