Hindi
UTV signs Vidya Balan for Ghanchakkar
MUMBAI: UTV Motion Pictures has signed Vidya Balan for the quirky comic-thriller Ghanchakkar. The production major had earlier signed Emraan Hashmi and director Rajkumar Gupta.
UTV Motion Pictures CEO Siddharth Roy Kapur said, “It is a pleasure to announce Ghanchakkar, our third film in a row with Rajkumar Gupta. With Emraan and Vidya in the lead roles, we have managed to get our dream cast for roles that were virtually written with them in mind.
“Rajkumar and Pervez Sheikh have written a fabulously quirky comic-thriller that will surprise audiences with its many twists and turns. We are confident that this explosive combination of Emraan, Vidya and Raj Kumar will take audiences by storm in Ghanchakkar.”
Ghanchakkar narrates the story of the protagonist (Emraan) who is an ex-conman. He is laid back and has a taste for finer things in life. He has an ambitious wife (played by Vidya) with her own notions of the world and, therefore, gets sucked into a ‘chakkar‘ and has to suffer two thugs in the process – one with a bad ailment and one with a bad sense of humour, leading to madness, confusion and chaos and unleashing some mad cap characters in his life. Will Sanju survive the madness and prevent himself from turning into a Ghanchakkar, is the crux of the film.
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UTV signs Rajkumar Gupta and Emraan Hashmi for Ghanchakkar
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
