International
Dino De Laurentiis bids adieu to the world
MUMBAI: 91-year old legendary producer of cult films, Dino De Laurentiis expired in Los Angeles yesterday. Laurentiis, the man behind more than 500 films, left an indelible footprint in a career that spanned half a century. He became known as a tireless deal-maker who was never afraid to bet big on an extravagant idea that had captured his imagination.
His early hits ranged from Italian titles La Strada and Nights of Cabiria, both of which won Academy Awards. He also made Barbarella, War and Peace and the Al Pacino starrer Serpico.
Later he produced films like the series of Conan the Barbarian films and The Silence of the Lambs sequels Hannibal, Red Dragon and Hannibal Rising.
Laurentiis was equally famed for his flops. Dune, which burned $40 million in 1984 and the 1976 remake of King Kong and 1977‘s Orca were some films that did him in.
He suffered a near-bankruptcy in 1988, at the age of 70, yet bounced back with a sense of ambition which will see him remembered as a survivor in the great tradition of outsized Hollywood producers. He later tasted success with Breakdown, U-571 and the final three Hannibal Lecter titles.
In the late 1950s, De Laurentiis developed the “international co-production”, in which Hollywood studios would film overseas, where backstage labour was cheap. Anthony Quinn came to Rome for La Strada, followed by Kirk Douglas (Ulysses) and Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda (War and Peace).
He built a massive film studio near Rome. But it soon hit financial difficulties when the Italian government tightened subsidy regulations. Eventually, the business failed, ending his relationship with Ponti and persuading him to emigrate to Hollywood in the early 1970s.
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.
