International
WWE Studios announces ‘The Chaperone’
MUMBAI: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Studios has announced that actors Kevin Corrigan American Gangster, Ariel Winter Modern Family and Annabeth Gish The West Wing have joined WWE Superstar Paul ‘Triple H‘ Levesque in the cast of the studios’ upcoming comedy, The Chaperone.
The film has begun principal photography in and around New Orleans, Louisiana.
Stephen Herek will direct the film from a screenplay by playwright SJ Roth. The Chaperone is produced by WWE Studios executive VP Michael Pavone and executive produced by WWE Studios VP David Calloway.
In the film, the title character Ray Bradstone played by Levesque is the best “wheel man in the business,” but he is determined to go straight and be the best parent he can be to his daughter, Sally, played by Winter and make amends with his ex-wife played by Gish. As he struggles to find honest work, his old bank-robbing crew, led by Phillip Larue played by Corrigan, offers him one last job. He agrees at first, but changes his mind at the last second leaving the crew without a driver.
Ray decides instead to serve as a “chaperone” for Sally’s school field trip. When the robbery goes awry, Larue blames Ray and chases the school bus all the way to the Museum of Natural History in New Orleans. Ray must deal with Larue, while supervising Sally’s class on what becomes one of the craziest school trips ever.
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.
