Hindi
Maker of science programmes turns to Bollywood
MUMBAI: Maker of the popular science programme ‘Turning Point‘, Sanjay Tripathy, has debuted into filmmaking with his upcoming film ‘Club 60‘ that delves into the lives of a bunch of people aged 60.
Commenting on his drive to make it to Bollywood, Tripathy said, “I started my career as a journalist. I also produced and directed many science based shows for BBC, National Geographic and Discovery. But making films was always the final destination.”
Club 60 is about four-five oldies. They are not depressed or bored. They are not even counting their final days. They are a group of happy-go-lucky people who are members of Club 60.
Being a graduate in Physics and having created a number of science based shows, one expected a science fiction from Tripathy. But the director maintains that the film is very close to his heart as it is based on his own experience.
“It is based on my personal experience. I used to frequent a club in south Bombay. There I interacted with a bunch of fun loving, passionate oldies. I found out that they were plagued with a lot of troubles in their life but that did not deter their spirit and zeal to live life happily,” he said.
The film boasts of veteran actors like Farooque Sheikh, Sarika, Satish Shah, Tinu Anand, Raghubir Yadav and Sharat Saxena.
The film, now under production, is expected to be wrapped up in September and to release by the end of this year.
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
