International
The Expendables remains on top for second week
MUMBAI: Sylvester Stallone‘s The Expendables” fought off an onslaught of newcomers to finish on top of the weekend box office again. The film remained No. 1 for a second straight weekend with $16.5 million. Directed by and starring Stallone, the action raised its total to $64.9 million.
The film fended opposition from five new releases but none managed to pack in huge audiences and knock off The Expendables.
Leading the new releases was 20th Century Fox‘s Twilight spoof Vampires Suck with a gross of $12.2 million, raising its total to $18.6 million since it opened Wednesday.
Vampires Suck claimed the No. 2 spot with another holdover, Julia Roberts‘ Eat Pray Love that pulled in $12 million to lift its total to $47.1 million.
The Warner Bros. comedy Lottery Ticket, featuring rapper Bow Wow opened in fourth place with $11.1 million.
Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg‘s cop comedy The Other Guys held up well in its third weekend, with the Sony release taking in $10.1 million and boosting its total to $88.2 million.
The film settled for the No. 5 position with the horror remake Piranha 3D that opened with an intake of $10 million.
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.
