Whistling Woods International, the largest film, TV and media arts institute in Asia will open its door for students from July this year. The brainchild of Bollywood showman Subhash Ghai, the school – spread over 20 acres of beautifully landscaped ground at Mumbai’s 500 acre Film City – Will provide world-class training across all technical and creative aspects of film-making, television and animation with regular tow ears of intensive hands-on training.

According to Ghai, who is also the Chairman of WWI, the school will act as a stepping stone for those wishing to make inroads into Bollywood. “The reason why I have floated this school is because I want to return to the industry what it has taught me over the last 27 years,” says Ghai.

Veteran film-maker Shaym Benegal, who is the chairman of the academic council of WWI, says , “It is amazing that India which has the largest film industry, should have so little to offer by way of film education. The real advantage of Whistling Woods is that it offers the kind of film education you’d probably get in institutes in either the US or Europe.

Incidentally, some of the brightest Bollywood stars are on the WWI advisory board, including thespian Dilip Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan. Versatile actors like Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi are also part of the list which includes contemporary film-makers like Karan Johar, Ashutosh Gowariker and Nagesh Kukunoor.