International
Polanski victim wants case to close
MUMBAI: The victim in director Roman Polanski‘s 1977 sex crime case, Samantha Geimer has said that she hoped the matter would now be closed after Switzerland refused to extradite Polanski to face the sentencing he fled in 1978 and freed him after months of house arrest.
It may be recalled that Geimer, who was 13 in 1977 when Polanski gave her drugs and champagne and had sex with her has repeatedly asked for the case to be dropped.
“I am satisfied with this decision and I hope that the district attorney will now close the case and get it over once and for all,” Geimer, 40 and now a mother of three has said.
But Polanski‘s US legal team called for a full inquiry into allegations of judicial misconduct three decades ago.
“That evidence was not insignificant and the failure to produce it (to the Swiss) was neither accidental nor a ‘technicality‘ as some have said,” Polanski‘s Los Angeles defence team said in a statement. They called for a thorough investigation by a “fair and impartial third party” of the misconduct allegations and said the results should be made public.
Polanski‘s wife, French actress and singer Emmanuelle Seigner, said in an interview with the newspaper Liberation that the Swiss decision was a huge relief.
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.
