International
Harry Potter is rock solid in second weekend
MUMBAI: For the second weekend in a row, Harry Potter reigned the worldwide box-office for a second weekend, but the heroic wizard had to face a scare from a hairy princess in North America. After two weekends the worldwide total stands at about $610 million.
The foreign total stands at $389.2 million. Top markets include Britain with $53.5 million, Germany with $37 million, Japan with $35 million, and Australia with $25 million.The seventh film in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 roped in $163.5 million that included a haul of $50.3 million in the United States and Canada. France came out best from among the foreign markets where the film opened at No. 1 with $19.1 million, the country‘s best start of any film so far in the year.
The previous film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince had earned $201 million during the same 10-day span in July last year.
But the fearless schoolboy almost lost his North American crown to Rapunzel, the hirsute heroine in the new Walt Disney Co 3D cartoon Tangled that earned $49.1 million for the three days of the last weekend.
Along with three other films, Tangled opened last Wednesday, giving the film a five-day total of $69 million while trade insiders had predicted a five-day haul of about $40 million.
Internationally, the Disney film earned $13.8 million after opening at No. 1 in six of seven markets led by Russia with $7.5 million haul.
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.
