International
Paramount nabs ‘Hellified’ spec
MUMBAI: Breathing life into a quiet spec market, Paramount has picked up Hellified a supernatural action script by Andy Burg, with Dan Bradley attached to direct. Lorenzo di Bonaventura, whose “Transformers” sequel is blowing up the boxoffice, is on board to produce.
Hellified is known to be a supernatural action film involving a journey to hell.
Di Bonaventura Pictures president Mark Vahradian brought the ICM-packaged script to Paramount‘s Geoff Stier and Adam Goodman, who promptly made a pre-emptive purchase. The deal was made before Goodman‘s ascension to film group president.
The script and the accompanying six-figure deal mark a return to Hollywood for Burg, a comedy and family-film writer who has worked on such movies as 1989‘s K-9 and 1996‘s Alaska. During the early 2000s, he got attached to the internet fashioning himself as a web entrepreneur.
With Hellified, the scribe hopes to begin a new act as an action writer. Burg is repped by ICM and Justin Silvera Management.
Di Bonaventura‘s next outing is G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, which Paramount is set to open Aug. 7.
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.
