Hindi
Once upon Udaipur tales take centre stage at storytelling festival 2026
MUMBAI: Once upon a time is not just a phrase in Udaipur this January, it is a full-blown festival. The Udaipur Tales International Storytelling Festival has unveiled its celebrity artist lineup for its seventh edition, scheduled from 9 to 11 January 2026, promising three immersive days where stories travel by voice, memory and imagination rather than screens.
Setting the tone for the 2026 edition are National Award-winning actor Divya Dutta and acclaimed theatre and film actor Rajit Kapur, who headline a diverse roster of storytellers and performers from India and overseas. The line-up blends theatre, dance, music and oral narrative, with names such as Danish Husain, Arif Zakaria, Divy Nidhi Sharma, author Mayur Kalbag, international storytellers Maia Ganatra, Mikka Chesron, and musician-actor Meiyang Chang performing with his band. Adding a visual dimension, the Sanjukta Sinha Dance Company from Ahmedabad will present Shifting Sands.
A defining feature of the festival remains Honours Unveiled, the Honouring of Master Storytellers, a curated segment introduced in the fifth edition to recognise lifelong contributions to oral storytelling. The jury-led honour celebrates those who have preserved cultural memory, language and lived histories through the spoken word, reinforcing the festival’s belief that storytelling is a living, transformative art.
Speaking about her participation, Divya Dutta noted that storytelling is where performance becomes most honest, shaped by the bond between teller and listener, adding that the festival offers a rare, meaningful space for stories to be shared through presence and imagination. Festival co-founder Sushmita Singha said the 2026 edition deepens that philosophy by bringing together distinguished voices from across cultures, adding new layers of craft and perspective.
The three-day programme is carefully structured. Day One opens with contemporary, folkloric and satirical narratives featuring Mayur Kalbag, Maia Ganatra, Divy Nidhi Sharma, Rajit Kapur and the Sanjukta Sinha Dance Company. Day Two focuses on legacy and lived histories, anchored by Honours Unveiled, followed by performances from Danish Husain, Colonel R K Sharma, Arif Zakaria and Meiyang Chang with his band. Day Three spans morning and evening sessions, culminating with performances by Mikka Chesron, Prithviraj Choudhury and Divya Dutta, alongside a closing Sufi music performance by Aanchal Srivastav.
Strengthening its digital outreach, Readmio joins as the official digital partner, supporting engagement initiatives and a dedicated children’s stage each morning. The festival will also host its sixth annual storytelling competition for school students, alongside Jamghat, its open talent platform running daily from 3 pm to 5 pm, encouraging participation from first-time performers, students and independent artists.
True to its inclusive ethos, the festival will feature sign-language interpreters, participation from visually impaired students and a performance by inmates from Udaipur Central Jail. Tickets for the 2026 edition will be available on Bookmyshow, starting at Rs 250, inviting audiences to step into a world where stories are heard, not scrolled.
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
