International
Megan Fox signed up for The Dictator
MUMBAI: Actress Megan Fox, who was recently ousted by Steven Spielberg after she compared Transformers-director Michael Bay to Adolf Hitler, has been signed up to star in an upcoming movie The Dictator.
Fox is expected to play a cameo and will have Sacha Baron Cohen as her co-star.
The cast of the movie also includes, John C. Reilly, Ben Kinglsey and Anna Faris and is directed by Larry Charles.
The studio describes the movie as a “heroic” story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that his country, he lovingly oppressed, never gets democratised.
The story is inspired by the best selling novel “Zabibah and The King”, written by Saddam Hussein.
The book was described as being about “a benevolent, beloved king who falls in love with a beautiful, victimized girl who was raped by her cruel husband. Believe it or not, it‘s a subtle allegory for Iraq and the United States — the king (based, obviously, on Saddam) is the peaceful Iraq, while the cruel, rapist husband is the Gulf War-waging United States.”
Fox has been far from unemployed since her Spielberg-imposed sabbatical, Though Fox has already shot for the dramedy Friends With Kids, directed by Jennifer Westfeldt, she had been out of work for quite some time.
Fox has also recently signed up for Judd Apatow‘s next project, This Is Forty.
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.
