International
Dragon grosses $43.3 million on debut
MUMBAI: With a $43.3 million opening weekend, How to Train Your Dragon took the No. 1 spot. Distributed by Paramount, the DreamWorks Animation adventure, however, came second to the studio‘s Monsters vs. Aliens that opened with a collection of $59.3 million over the same weekend last year.
The film featuring the voices of Jay Baruchel and America Ferrera out-performed some recent animated movies like Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs that opened with haul of $30.3 million last September.
With an intake of with $17.3 million, Disney‘s Alice in Wonderland that could not be unsettled from its No. 1 spot for the last three weeks, slipped to second place, collecting a domestic total of $293.1 million and its worldwide haul of $656 million.
On the third spot was John Cusack‘s comedy Hot Tub Time Machine that had a lukewarm No. 3 debut of $13.7 million. Released by MGM, the movie has Cusack as part of a group of losers hurled back by a time-traveling hot tub to the 1980s, where they have a chance to set their lives right.
Interestingly, How to Train Your Dragon pulled in 68 per cent of its revenue from 3-D presentation.
After a phenomenal 15-week run, Avatar lost most of its remaining 3-D theatres to How to Train Your Dragon. The James Cameron‘s blockbuster fell out of the top 10 grossing $2 million to finish at No. 11.
Clash of the Titans, another 3D release, is to release this Friday.
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.
