International
Hanks, Roberts team up for comedy film
MUMBAI: Tom Hanks is to pair with Julia Roberts in upcoming film Larry Crowne.
The 54-year-old has co-written the script with director Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and was keen from the beginning to cast Roberts in the character of a teacher in the film.
“I had some teachers who looked like Julia. I would see them and think, ‘I love you, so there was never anyone but Julia. Still, even after she said yes to the role, I was the boss. That meant I got to say, ‘You don‘t wear this dress, you wear that dress and Julia‘s Julia, she can be intimidating,” Hanks is reported to have said.
Hanks will star as a middle-aged man who loses his job and decides to go back to college while Roberts plays his disillusioned teacher.
While it might be a little scary directing Roberts, the mom of three confessed that parts of filming were scary for her too.
“This was my first college experience. And the first time I had to speak in front of a classroom, I was apoplectic. All these faces looking up at me, thinking, ‘What is she going to teach us? I needed to find my composure. It was very hard it was terrible, in fact,” she averred.
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.
