International
Piper Perabo to play the lead in ‘Affairs’
MUMBAI: Piper Perabo has been tapped to play the lead in USA Network‘s spy thriller Covert Affairs. The project, which has been quietly casting two major roles for the past month, hasn‘t received a firm pilot order, but a green light is expected within a couple of weeks.
Written by Matt Corman and Chris Ord, the film centers on Annie Walker (Perabo), a CIA trainee who speaks six languages and excels at any endeavor she undertakes.
Walker joins the CIA while still reeling over a mysterious ex-boyfriend who appears to be of particular interest to her new bosses. She vows never to let herself be hurt again, but that proves to be a tall order.
With the lead role cast, attention now shifts to finding an actor to play Auggie Anderson, a blind tech expert who assists Walker in her assignments.
Affairs from Universal Cable Prods. has been executively produced by Dutch Oven‘s Dave Bartis and Doug Liman, with Corman and Ord serving as co-executive producers.
The spy thriller genre has been a successful one for USA, which scored a hit with Burn Notice.
Perabo, a feature actress who rarely has ventured into TV, recently guest-starred on the USA series Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Having just completed a Broadway run in the Tony-nominated Reasons to Be Pretty, she next stars opposite Chris Pine in Paramount Vantage‘s Carriers.
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.
