International
‘CSI: NY’ producer inks new CBS deal
MUMBAI: CSI: NY‘s Peter Lenkov has inked a new two-year overall deal with CBS TV Studios, as series producer. Under the seven-figure pact, Lenkov will continue as an executive producer on the crime drama, which returns for a sixth season in the fall.
Lenkov joined CSI: NY after the first season in 2005 as a co-exec producer, but his association with the “CSI” franchise and CBS TV Studios president David Stapf dates back another five years.
In fall 2000, Lenkov was a writer-producer on a new UPN series, Level 9, which aired in the 9 p.m. Friday slot against another rookie drama, CBS‘ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He said he was so intrigued by the promos for “CSI” that he found himself watching the forensic drama instead of his own series.
On the morning after the CSI premiere, Lenkov went to his daughter‘s soccer game and approached Stapf, then CBS‘ head of current programming, who was coaching the team. “I told David Stapf, ‘You have the best show on television,‘ ” Lenkov recalled. “I was so impressed by ‘CSI‘ and wanted to be in involved in that franchise.”
Lenkov and Stapf crossed paths professionally in 2003 when Lenkov joined the CBS‘ The District as a co-executive producer. There he worked with Pam Veasey, who soon became the drama ‘s showrunner.
After a one-season stint on Fox‘s 24, Lenkov got a call in 2005 from Veasey, then newly minted exec producer-showrunner of CSI: NY, who invited him to join the series.
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.
