Hindi
John Abraham gets lean look for his home production Madras Cafe
NEW DELHI: Known for his well-proportioned figure, Bollywood’s quintessential poster boy John Abraham was forced to sport a leaner frame to get into the skin of his character of a special agent against gangsters in Viacom Motion Pictures, JA Entertainment, and Rising Sun Film’s political thriller, Madras Cafe.
The director Shoojit Sircar wanted the actor to sport a body which was more real and naturally lean as opposed to a bulked-up body, and so John adopted a special diet and fitness routine to look the part.
Says Sircar, “Yes, audiences will see a leaner John Abraham since I did not want him to particularly stand out in a crowd and he needed to look like one of them; hats off to his dedication, since he worked really hard on his physique for the film.”
Talking about the warm equation he shares with his film’s lead, the director added, “John and I are good friends…We have similar vision when it comes to films and are planning a few more together – We do not interfere in each other’s space and enjoy working together”.
Says producer and actor John Abraham, “Madras Café has been my dream project and we have been in discussions for years over the subject – We have worked extremely hard on the film and are satisfied with the outcome – What I can assure you is audiences will be talking about the film even after they’ve stepped out of the theater… it is a high-on-content, thought provoking film”.
The film is scheduled to release 23 August and also stars Nargis Fakhri, Prosenjt Chatterjee, and Rashi Khanna. The film is political spy thriller set against backdrop of the Sri Lankan Civil War of the 1990s.
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
