International
Agatha Christie’s Crooked House being adapted
MUMBAI: Gemma Arterton, the former Bond girl, will join Julie Andrews, Matthew Goode and Gabriel Byrne in a big-screen adaptation of Agatha Christie‘s Crooked House. The actress will star in Neil LaBute‘s adaptation of the murder mystery, rewritten for the screen by Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey and Tim Rose Price.
The film will feature a crime scene set against the backdrop of three generations of a family who live together in a large, seemingly crooked house. All members of the family, who individually have their own eccentricities become suspects when their multimillionaire relative is killed and a detective must determine whether Arterton‘s character is a murderess or the next victim.
LaBute, who directed The Wicker Man said, “The story has a couple of fresh sides to it that I didn‘t remember from Christie‘s work. There‘s a love story, which didn‘t feature strongly in many of her books, so that seemed very different to me and fresh. Plus it‘s quite morally ambiguous, which also appealed to me.”
The film budgeted to cost around 20 million pounds, is to begin filming in the UK this summer.
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.
