Hindi
Ormax Media to support economy films with new tool
MUMBAI: The media research and consulting firm Ormax Media has launched a new product, Movie Genie, designed to support filmmakers working outside the studio system and without the top superstars.
The product will provide customised consumer knowledge and strategic inputs to “economy films”, defined as films that are made at modest budgets and don‘t have a big star to ensure a good opening at the box office, the company said.
Explaining the idea behind Movie Genie, Ormax Media CEO Shailesh Kapoor said, “Over the last few years, the gap between big budget and medium to small budget films has grown progressively wider. More than 55 per cent of films produced in the last three years were economy films. However, their contribution to the box office was only five per cent. We want such filmmakers to produce more films, but that is possible only if they can make profitable films. Movie Genie is a strategy and marketing solutions product designed to guide and support such filmmakers in their filmmaking journey.”
Movie Genie will involve four stages. In the first stage, Ormax Media will work with the filmmakers to define the marketing strategy of the film. In the second stage, relevant elements of the film‘s content and communication will be tested with the consumer.
In the third stage, the box office planning for the film will be done, to set the revenue targets for the film. In the final stage, the film‘s live campaign will be tracked to ensure that the targets are met. Ormax‘s film industry experience will be used across these four stages.
Kapoor added, “Movie Genie is designed to be a very efficient, high-ROI product. By spending only about one per cent of their film‘s total production and marketing budget on Movie Genie, economy filmmakers can get a revenue upside of up to 30 per cent. Every good film deserves to earn money, irrespective of its starcast or scale. Movie Genie is our initiative to make this happen in a way that‘s affordable to the makers of such films.”
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
