International
Jason Winer in two-year pact
MUMBAI: Jason Winer has inked a new two-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV.
Under the seven-figure pact, Winer will serve as co-executive producer for Modern Family in addition to developing, writing, producing and directing other projects for the studio.
It was five years ago when studio brass invited Winer to develop his short The Adventures of Big Handsome Guy and His Little Friends into a TV series.
Winer went on to land three consecutive pilot orders in as many years with the single-camera Guy at Fox, Giants of Radio at CBS and This Might Hurt at ABC.
“Ultimately, everything came together as beautifully as it can in Modern Family for which he took a really funny and innovative script and, through his directing, took it to another level, gave it freshness and authenticity,” 20th TV chairman Gary Newman said.
The plan for Winer is to write as well as probably supervise a couple of scripts by other scribes and get attached to direct existing 20th projects.
In 2006, Winer made news when he took the $150,000 he got from 20th TV to write a script and used it to film the full-length semi-scripted pilot “Giants,” which was picked up by CBS for fall consideration along with its far more expensive traditionally produced comedy pilots.
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.
