International
Jane Russell receives Lauderdale fest honour
MUMBAI: Actress Jane Russell, the movie sex symbol of the 1940s and 1950s, was honoured on Monday at the 25th Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Cinema Paradiso.
Russell was given the festival‘s Lifetime Achievement Award for her work. Among her most famous roles is a screen pairing with Mitchum, her co-star in both His Kind of Woman and Macao, a Hollywood gossip columnist Louella Parson described ‘as the hottest combination that ever hit the screen‘.
Discovered by millionaire Howard Hughes while working as a receptionist; Russell called Marilyn Monroe a friend and played leading lady to Clark Gable, Robert Mitchum and Bob Hope.
She broke into Hollywood in 1943 with a splash in the Western The Outlaw, a mild R-rated movie about the love life of Billy the Kid directed by Hughes. It‘s part of Hollywood lore that Hughes created the underwire bra for Russell, who needed extra support in a scene where she appears laying on a haystack.
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.
