International
Jamie Fox launches production company
MUMBAI: Stand-up comedian and singer Jamie Foxx has joined forces with writer-director-producer Deon Taylor to launch a Los Angeles-based production company and named it as No Brainer Films.
The banner will focus on developing, financing, writing, directing and producing mainstream films and TV series budgeted at under $10 million.
Robert Smith, founder and managing principal of private-equity firm Vista Equity Partners will finance the venture.
First up from No Brainer will be the TV series Tommy‘s Little Girl created by Foxx who has co-written and co-directed with Taylor. The mob drama stars Selma Blair, Paul Sorvino, Tony Sirico and James Russo.
Hoowever, Foxx and Taylor will continue to run their individual production companies, Foxx-King Entertainment and Deon Taylor Enterprises respectively.
While Taylor‘s latest horror thriller Chain Letter stars Nikki Reed which he wrote, directed and produced opens across America in October, Foxx next appears in Warner Bros. comedy Due Date set to open in November.
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.
