Hindi
Music Beyond Boundaries, was a musical revelation
MUMBAI: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Molecule Communications along with Pria Haider organised a panel discussion recently on Music Beyond Boundaries featuring composers Karsh Kale, Salim Merchant and DJ Rekha.
Sharda, a singer in Bollywood movies of yesteryear graced the event that was emceed by Geetika Agarwal. Also present on this occasion were president of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Dr. Navin Mehta and director of Molecule Communications (New York) Ajay Shrivastav.
The panellists described how Indian music has gone global and their contribution to the music world. Each speaker narrated how they were inspired by music and the richness and mosaic of Indian. The panellists also attempted to answer the question why Indian music is very much Bollywood-driven and is there music beyond cinema?
Emmy Award-nominated Salim Merchant, one of Bollywood‘s renowned music composers, said, “One should not attempt to swim in the vast ocean of music but get drowned to feel the rhythm of it inside out. You can‘t play safe if you want to succeed or merely survive. There should be a fire of knowledge about music that should keep burning.” He also narrated how Indian music has been adapted in various countries and blend perfectly with global music in different forms.
Karsh, described by Billboard Magazine as a visionary composer and producer, explained how to find a perfect match between Indian music and rest of the world. He said, “Truly music has no boundaries and musicians are the children of the world. One should follow the heart if he or she wants good music.”
Molecule Communications CEO and Director Kiren Shrivastav said, “We create brands in the most diverse verticals, be it in sports to fashion to TV to cinema to social services to women empowerment as our annual properties and aiming to create more. Our success is a direct result of knowing how to market a brand. We do something worth remembering. Our vision is to become a contemporary brand that is not only recognised in India but also in the international arena. This year also we would be conducting Ticket2Bollywood – Cinema Beyond Boundaries on Sept 28 and 29 in collaboration with one of the leading art schools in the United States, The School of Visual Arts and The Screen Actors Guild (SAG).”
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
