International
PRO.BG to showcase Warner Bros. stuff in Bulgaria
MUMBAI: As per the multi-year output deal announced today, Central European Media Enterprises‘ (CME) PRO.BG will become the new Bulgarian home for TV series, feature films and animated series from Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD that includes the hit shows Fringe and The Mentalist.
The Bulgarian broadcaster has already made good amount of investment in its content slate, picking up the rights to key sporting events such as UEFA‘s Champions League and Europa League, as well as the local Bulgarian A league.
With the WBITD deal, effective this month, the channel scores the rights to J.J. Abrams‘ Fringe, CBS‘s hit drama The Mentalist, Jerry Bruckheimer‘s new show Dark Blue and John Wells‘ latest NBC show, Southland. On the movie
“After six months of very competitive negotiation, we are extremely glad to have landed the most important and biggest deal on our market,” said Liliana Slavova, the program director at the channel.
“PRO.BG is going to air more than 900 hours of programming per year from Warner Bros. The latest hit films and TV series from Warner Bros. will be available soon for Bulgarian viewers, only on PRO.BG, and our viewers will be happy to learn that we have acquired the rights to the series involved “for life,” meaning that whenever a new season of a particular program has been made, in Bulgaria it will be aired on PRO.BG, she added.”
“This deal positions PRO.BG to become the Bulgarian home for our highly sought-after Warner Bros. programming, and is a great fit for the channel‘s audience,” said Warner Bros. International Television president Jeffrey R. Schlesinger.
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.
