International
Elizabeth Taylor no more
MUMBAI: Celebrity actress Elizabeth Taylor passed away on Wednesday due to congestive heart failure.
In a career that spanned more than 70 years and fifty movies, the 79-year old Taylor won two Academy awards for best actress – for her performances as a call girl in the 1960 film Butterfield 8 and as Martha in 1966 in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Taylor, whose name was synonymous with glamour was considered one of the great actresses of Hollywood‘s golden age. The American Film Institute named Taylor seventh on its Female Legends list.
Taylor was married eight times to seven husbands with all but one ending in divorce. The husbands were: Conrad Hilton, Micheal Wilding, Michael Todd, Eddie |Fischer, Richard |Burton and Larry Fortensky.
Bollywood celebrities took to micro-blogging site Twitter m,ourning her death. Amitabh Bachchan, in his blog said, Another sad moment! Elizabeth Taylor passes away! God‘s creation in abundance … now reduced to dust! The way for all someday. Wrote Madhur Bhandarkar, Elizabeth Taylor, the ultimate iconic actress, RIP. The world will never forget the role of immortal Cleopatra.
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.
