Hindi
SAFF gets going in Goa
MUMBAI: The South Asian Film Festival (SAFF) got going in Goa yesterday with the screening of the Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore-starrer Kashmir ki Kali, screened as a special tribute to the late star.
The festival was declared open by Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat in the presence of Randhir Kapoor and Rajeev Kapoor, the scions of Kapoor family among representatives of South Asian Countries who were present at the ceremony.
Randhir Kapoor was felicitated by the state chief secretary Sanjay Srivastava in honour of the contribution of the Kapoor family to Indian Cinema. “Cinema knows no boundaries. Its just an emotion that we create. We should have lot of cultural exchange amongst the south Asian nations,” said Kapoor responding to the felicitation.
The festival‘s theme is ‘Dissolving Boundaries‘ – spreading the message of togetherness and oneness amongst the South Asian Countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Bhutan is the focus country for SAFF 2011. The annual festival will also pay tribute to Bangladeshi film maker Tareque Masud who was one of the two prime witnesses of the International War Crime Tribunal. Incidentally, Tareque was killed in a fatal bus accident near Dhaka on 26 August.
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
