International
Taken 2 is still no. 1 in second consecutive week
MUMBAI: For the second week in succession, Taken 2, starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen, has taken the top foreign box office ranking with an intake of $41 million from more than 50 foreign markets. Currently, its overseas gross total stands at $132.8 million.
The action sequel starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen remained the U.K.‘s No. 1 title ($6 million from 779 locations for a local intake of $23.4 million) in its second market round and drew $4 million in its second China round at 1,500 situations for a cume of $10.8 million. The film‘s second Australia session grossed $3.7 million at 367 spots, lifting the market cume to $13.7 million. Its Italy open scored $1.25 million at 267 situations.
Twentieth Century Fox is distributing the film in 35 markets (earning $28.5 million from 6,314 spots) while the film‘s co-producer, Luc Besson‘s Europa Corp, is handling the rest of the world.
Frankenweenie, director-co-producer-co-scripter Tim Burton‘s comedy animation with horror overtones, that grossed $22 million over two frames in the U.S. and Canada, opened offshore in nine markets this round, collecting $4.9 million on the weekend. Early offshore cume for the Disney release stands at $5.3 million.
The weekend‘s biggest single-market smash by far was Warner Bros. Espana‘s release in Spain of Lo Impossible (The Impossible), director Juan Antonio Bayona‘s action adventure co-starring Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor and a nasty Indian Ocean tsunami.
The film‘s opening round drew $13.4 million (including previews) from 638 screens, easily the market‘s No. 1 title. Warner‘s said it may be Spain‘s biggest three-day and four-day opener of all time.
Opening No. 2 in France ($2.8 million at 348 spots) was Universal‘s Ted that grossed $13.9 million on the weekend at 2,900 play dates in 44 markets.
International
Russia-India cinematic spectacle Persimmon of My Love set for grand Moscow debut
Hindi cinema style musical revives Indo-Soviet cinema ties for today
MUMBAI: A new chapter in cross-border storytelling is set to unfold as Persimmon of My Love gears up for its premiere in Moscow on 1 April 2026, marking the first large-scale cinematic collaboration between Russia and India in decades.
Positioned as a modern nod to the cultural exchange that once brought Indian classics to Soviet audiences, the film blends Hindi cinema flair with Russian storytelling, aiming to rekindle a long-standing cinematic friendship.
Directed by Marius Weisberg, the musical comedy follows two brothers navigating a lively world of music, family and romance. The lead roles are played by Demis Karibidis and Mikhail Galustyan, with Karibidis also contributing as a screenwriter.
Shot entirely in India, the production leans heavily into Hindi cinema style spectacle. Filming took place across Mumbai studios and the cities of Udaipur and Jodhpur, whose architecture was used to create the fictional setting of Khurmada. A crew of over 350 worked on the project, with large-scale sequences featuring up to 1,000 extras.
The film also brings Indian creative talent into the mix. Dance sequences are choreographed by Jay Kumar, while music by Zurab Matua features songs in both Hindi and Russian, adding to its cross-cultural appeal.
Backed by TNT channel, MyWayStudio and the Russian Cinema Fund, the project reflects a broader push to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.
With its mix of colour, comedy and cross-border collaboration, Persimmon of My Love is not just a film release but a reminder that cinema, much like music, travels well across borders.
