International
Peter Hedges to go ‘Green’ for Disney
MUMBAI: Peter Hedges has signed on to write and direct The Odd Life of Timothy Green, a modern-day fable for Disney. Green is based on an idea by Ahmet Zappa, who will produce with Scott Sanders.
Disney is keeping plot details under tight wraps, though it is understood to be a high priority for the studio as well as very personal to Zappa. Disney president of production Oren Aviv is overseeing with vp production LouAnne Brickhouse. Mara Jacobs is exec producing.
Zappa is a principal at Disney-based production shingle Monsterfoot Prods. and also runs Kingdom Comics, the studio‘s graphic novel publishing unit.
CAA-repped Hedges wrote and directed the Steve Carell dramedy Dan in Real Life for Disney. He was nominated for an Oscar for co-writing the adaptation of About a Boy and is working on Everything Changes a drama set up at Columbia with Tobey Maguire attached to star.
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.
