International
Fox’s Rio year’s first robust b-o hit
MUMBAI:20th Century Fox’s Rio turned out to be the year’s first robust box-office hit over the weekend as the film opened in 11,612 screens in 72 markets and grossed an estimated $55 million.
“This is a fantastic start for a new franchise,” declared Fox International co-presidents Paul Hanneman and Tomas Jegeus. “With consistently stellar reviews and excellent world-of-mouth around the world…we are well established to take advantage of the school holidays, which begin in the coming weeks,” they added.
Rio opened at No. 1 in nearly every market it played and scored particularly well in Brazil, where the weekend action came to $8.3 million from 1,013 locations, the market’s biggest animation opening weekend of all time.
The film’s Russian bow generated $10.4 million from 1,297 screens. Mexico provided $5.3 million from 1,624 sites, Germany registered $3.4 million from 920 venues while. The film is likely to open in France, Belgium and Italy US and Canada this week.
No. 2 on the weekend was Warner’s Sucker Punch that garnered $8.9 million from 4,550 screens in 50 markets, pushing the foreign gross total of the film to $32.7 million.
Third on the weekend was Sony’s Just Go With It, which delivered $7.9 million from 2,610 screens in 53 markets for a foreign gross total to date of $88.3 million. The comedy drew $1.7 million in its second Australia round at 310 sites and collected $5 million totally. The film is the biggest-grossing Sandler title to date in Brazil and Russia.
The weekend’s No. 4 title, Universal’s Hop grossed $5.9 million at 2,927 venues in 32 territories bringing its overseas total to $15.1 million while at No. 5 was Summit Entertainment’s Source Code that generated about $10.8 million so far on the foreign circuit thanks to a $3.2 million second weekend from some 20 overseas markets.
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.
