International
Ex-UA head Andy Albeck no more
MUMBAI: Andy Albeck, who as head of United Artists (UA) acquired Raging Bull and Heaven‘s Gate died of heart failure on 29 September four days after he celebrated his 89th birthday.
Spending more than 30 years at UA, Albeck worked with such renowned filmmakers as Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola.
After stints as president of UA broadcasting and senior vp operations, he was named studio president and CEO in 1978 after the previous studio leadership left and formed Orion Pictures. His three-year stint at the top was well-documented in former UA executive Steven Bach‘s best-selling book Final Cut that focused on the making of the Michael Cimino‘s Heaven‘s Gate.
Born in Russia and raised and schooled in Japan, Albeck began his career in the film industry in 1939 as a sales representative for Columbia Pictures in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). In 1950, he joined Eagle Lion in New York as its assistant foreign sales manager, and a year later Eagle Lion was acquired by UA.
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.
