International
‘The Fighter’ Bale in Chinese film
MUMBAI: Christian Bale, who featured in The Fighter will now star in a Chinese film titled Nanjing Heroes, a film about the Nanjing Massacre. Bale will play an American priest called John who helps a great number of Chinese escape certain death.
The $90 million budget film directed by Zhang Yimou is roughly equal to that of John Woo‘s two-part period film Red Cliff that was said to be the most expensive ever Asian-financed movie.
The Nanjing Massacre, when Japanese troops killed thousands of Chinese citizens in what was then the nation‘s capital in 1937, has been the subject of several recent Chinese and co-produced films.
The film will be 40 per cent in English while the rest would be in Mandarin Chinese. Earlier, Sony Pictures Classics distributed Zhang‘s films in the United States but it is not involved at this time.
Zhang‘s highest-grossing film ever was 2002 period war film Hero starring Jet Li roped in almost $54 million in the US. His new film comes at a time when China‘s film business is booming at home and dominant in parts of Asia, but receives little attention elsewhere.
The film will start rolling on 10 January 10.
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.
