International
James Bond weapon auctioned for $ 436,000
MUMBAI: The air pistol that James Bond star Sean Connery held in a promotional poster of the 1963 classic From Russia With Love has fetched USD 436,000 in an auction.
The weapon that recently went on sale at Christie‘s auction house in London was expected to fetch between USD 30,000 to USD 40,000, collected ten times its asking price, it is reported.
Another James Bond pistol that appeared in the 1974 film The Man With The Golden Gun, sold for USD 30,000 at the Popular Culture: Film and Entertainment sale.
On the other hand, a Darth Vader costume that was expected to fetch up to USD 400,000 failed to sell. The costume was used in the second Star Wars film The Empire Strikes Back.
Other items put up for auction included a dinosaur model from the 1933 King Kong film and a metal box containing the glowing red eye of the computer HAL from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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.
