Hindi
Filming in Kerala grinds to a halt
MUMBAI: Film shootings in Kerala came to a halt after the Kerala Film Producers Association decided to call off shooting schedules in the state as a result of high production costs.
“We have had several talks with the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) but it failed to yield any positive results and the production costs continue to go up. Now we have decided that we will wait and watch what is going to happen. Our protest is not directed against any organisation,”
remarked Association president Siyad Koker.
FEFKA comprises 19 different organisations that include drivers to directors. It has had a love-hate relation with producers for long and this is not the first time that the film industry is going to come to a grinding halt.
On the other hand, a section of the film theatre owners are also on a war path. This is another reason why the producers have decided to go ahead with the strike.
The film industry is in a crisis because revenues for even blockbusters are falling for various reasons, including the huge influx of pirated CDs available a few days after the filmS hit the theatres.
Exhibitors Association President Liberty Basheer said in a statement that the government was trying to cut service tax and increase ticket rates which was not acceptable.
Meanwhile, it is reported that film shooting in the Malayalam film industry continued despite the strike called by State Film Producers Association as work on few films were to be completed on schedule before ‘pack-up.‘
“Shooting of around 12 films, for which the work was on, went on uninterrupted yesterday,” industry sources said.
The Producers Association, however, said the producers had only been given time for two days for finishing work and the decision to suspend production activities was still on.
The Association has cautioned that action would be taken against producers who will continue with shooting after the prescribed time, the Association said in a statement.
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
