Shaker Ayyanar Rajasekar, widely known in the global entertainment industry as Jack A. Rajasekar, is a distinguished filmmaker, producer, and academic with a prolific career spanning over 50 years. He is celebrated as a pioneer who bridged the gap between Hollywood and Indian cinema and as a transformative educator who redefined student filmmaking.
For several years, Rajasekar served as a professor at Regent University (School of Communication & the Arts), where he revolutionized the film curriculum. Known for challenging students to push beyond their perceived limits, he introduced a rigorous, professional-standard production model that remains virtually unheard of in film schools. His most notable academic achievement was spearheading the production of “Rainy Carolina,” a full-length feature film produced entirely by students. Under his mentorship, the class accomplished the impossible: scripting, shooting, and completing a feature film within a single semester. This endeavor not only set a new precedent for student filmmaking but also provided his students with a “boot camp” experience in real-world film production, proving that high-quality cinema could be created under tight deadlines with discipline and vision.His rigorous mentorship has led to international acclaim for student projects like Silkworm and Corner Mart, which have won awards globally. Extending his educational philosophy beyond the US, Rajasekar has established deep academic ties with South Indian institutions such as Sacred Heart College, Madurai Kamaraj University, and Gandhigram Rural Institute, conducting comprehensive workshops that teach the Stanislavski method and visual aesthetics to aspiring filmmakers. He has bridged the gap between student learning and top-tier professional production by collaborating with renowned Indian director Cheran on his Sony TV show, Journey, which actively involves American Film Academy students in the production process
Rajasekar is credited with facilitating historic collaborations between the Indian film industry and Hollywood.
He served as the Executive Producer and key liaison for the blockbuster film Robot, starring superstar Rajinikanth. Rajasekar was the vital link connecting Indian cinema with Stan Winston Studios, the legendary special effects house behind Jurassic Park, Terminator, and Edward Scissorhands. This collaboration brought world-class animatronics to India for the first time. He successfully integrated Hollywood talent into major South Indian productions, including casting Roland Kickinger (Terminator Salvation) in the film Peraanmai and WWE powerhouse Nathan Jones (Mad Max: Fury Road) in Bhooloham.
Shaker A Rajasekar serves as the President and Founder of the American Film Academy. Through this institution, he continues to train the next generation of storytellers, conducting international workshops and training programs that blend his half-century of industry experience with his passion for teaching.
Every student who joins AFA has the potential to make a difference, not just in their own lives but in the wider world of cinema. Our commitment is to nurture and guide them, providing the training they need to turn their visions into reality and see the results on the big screen.