International
Johny Depp to star in crime thriller The Thin Man
MUMBAI: Johnny Depp is all set to play the lead in a big screen adaptation of the crime novel The Thin Man. But, the actor reportedly wants his Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides director Rob Marshall to helm the project. So keen is Depp in the project, that he is looking to develop a script with producers Infinitum Nihil.
The Thin Man, based on a novel by Dashiell Hammett, is about Nick Charles, a detective who gives up his job when he marries a wealthy socialite, ending up as an alcoholic. However, he is drawn back for one last job investigating a murder and he takes his wife along with him.
But the director is already in talks to work a movie based on the musical theatre show Wicked, a prequel to The Wizard of Oz and may find it difficult to take up the film.
Depp, meanwhile, is currently filming the fourth instalment of Pirates.
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.
