Hindi
Haroon Rashid finishes film in one take
MUMBAI: After Roop Tera Mastana… from Aradhana which was supposedly canned in a single take on Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore by Shakti Samanta, filmmakers have often tried to do such sort of achievement.
The latest is debutant director Haroon Rashid who has completed a feature film of two hours and twenty minutes length in just one take without a single cut. Rashid claims that the film, titled One Shot Fear Without A Cut, is qualified as the world‘s longest one-take film and has been sent to the Guinness book of world records for the same.
The film’s story revolves around the TRP game of media and how a team of a particular television channel gets trapped in this race and desires to get fame and recognition overnight. This greed of theirs takes them to a haunted place, uninhabited for several years. The crux of the film follows hereon.
Rashid who wrote and directed the film had to double up as the cinematographer as well after many DOPs (director of photography) deserted him midway after a few days of rehearsal.
On the challenges, Rashid said, “We shot a full-length film with songs, dance, real-time action and chase scenes spread across seven kilometers on actual locations. We were very accurate in what we did because if one would have gone wrong we would have had to do it all over again.”
To make sure nothing went wrong, Rashid rehearsed with his crew for a few months. “We rehearsed for almost five months before shooting the film and we got it right in the seventh or eighth final take,” he pointed out.
The film is a magnificent presentation of a very well synchronized team-work. Covering four locations over a distance of seven kilometers, starting from the sea to the road, road to the jungle and jungle to the final building, again all in one shot was no easy task.”It took a lot of courage, passion, trust and faith to achieve our goal, “observed Rashid.
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
