International
Relativity Media spins Off Beverly 2 to Elliott
MUMBAI: Relativity Media, the film and television production and distribution firm, and New York-based hedge fund Elliott Management have announced that they are spinning off the co-finance vehicle with Universal, Beverly 2, to funds managed by its long-time strategic partner Elliott Management Corporation.
Elliott Media Investments, a newly created affiliate of the funds, will manage Beverly 2. Also, the two companies said that Elliott has agreed to invest additional capital into Relativity to help further its 2012 home-grown production slate.
The spin-off of Beverly 2 will allow Relativity to avoid the inherent conflicts of interest that have arisen as a result of Relativity‘s move into distribution.
Relativity will remain a production company on each Universal-selected film and Ryan Kavanaugh will remain an executive producer. Relativity will now receive a producer fee on each Beverly 2 film for its production services. Relativity will solely be a production partner with Universal.
“As our core business of developing, producing and distributing our own product has grown to be competitive in size and scope with the majors, this move allows us to focus our energy on that business,” said Relativity Media CEO and majority shareholder Ryan Kavanaugh.
“This move allows Relativity to focus on producing and distributing its own home-grown product,” said Elliott Media Investments president Michael Joe.
Joe was recently installed in his new position pursuant to a joint decision by Elliott and Relativity.
Meanwhile, the dissolution has come as a surprise to Universal which had no clue about the developments. Relativity, which is based in West Hollywood, California, is trying to build its own movie production and distribution business.
Now, Relativity has got into a deal with Sony Pictures to finance their films. Sony remains unaffected by the dissolution between Relativity and Elliot.
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.
