International
New Year’s Eve stumbles on opening
MUMBAI: As every year, December started on a sluggish note with Garry Marshall‘s star-studded film New Year‘s Eve failing to gather enough footfalls. The film grossed a poor $13.7 million.
Though they knew of the sluggish period, Warner Bros. and New Line still expected New Year‘s Eve to earn $20 million or more in the film‘s opening.
“The box office was just in really bad shape. While we had the No. 1 movie, we were No. 1 in a very soft market,” Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman has reportedly said.
Overall box revenues for the weekend reached an estimated $78 million, the lowest since early September 2008, when revenues only reached $68 million over the Sept. 5-7 weekend.
This weekend was down 15 per cent from the same period a year ago and 4 per cent from last weekend.
In the US, New Year‘s Eve scored better than Marshall‘s Valentine‘s Day that opened to a massive $72 million over the four-day Valentine‘s Day/President‘s Day weekend in 2010.
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.
