Hindi
Shruti Haasan scores a double whammy this Friday
MUMBAI: Bollywood releases for this Friday, 19 July are – D-Day and Ramaiya Vastavaiya. D-Day is an intense action film, while Ramaiya Vastavaiya is a mix of romance and comedy.
Both movies feature Shruthi Haasan in the cast, which is a rare incidence in Bollywood by any standards. Shruti Haasan is playing a role of an ordinary village girl in Ramaiya Vastavaiya and a prostitute in D-Day.
Ramaiya Vastavaiya is a musical romance movie and a remake of Prabhu Deva‘s directorial debut Telugu blockbuster Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana. Directed by Prabhu Deva, the movie introduces Girish Kumar, son of producer Kumar Taurani and Shruti Haasan plays the lead lady opposite Girish.
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Whereas, directed by Nikhil Advani, D-Day is an Indian crime-thriller starring Arjun Rampal, Shruti Haasan, Irrfan Khan and Huma Qureshi in pivotal roles.
D-Day is the story of four modest protagonists, all with varying background stories and a common mission that brings them together on foreign soil to execute one such mission.
With both films in different genres releasing on the same day, let us see on Friday how they are going to be received by the audience.
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
