International
Tony Curtis no more
MUMBAI: Tony Curtis, who entertained us in his films like Some Like It Hot and The Sweet Smell of Success expired Wednesday night in Nevada of cardiac arrest. He was 85.
Cutis, leading man of more than 140 films including Spartacus had received an Academy Award nomination for The Defiant Ones released in 1958.
Born Bernard Schwartz in New York, Curtis got off to a rocky professional start. In one of his first major roles, playing an Arabian in Son of Ali Baba released in 1952.
Two of his most enduring performances came in Some Like It Hot in which he teamed up with Jack Lemmon, playing cross-dressers opposite Marilyn Monroe and The Sweet Smell of Success in which which he played a fawning press agent.
In his Oscar nomination film The Defiant Ones Curtis played a racist prison escapee chained to a black man played by Sidney Poitier.Some of his other notable films include Houdini, Trapeze, Operation Petticoat, The Boston Strangler, The Vikings and The Great Imposter.
When leading roles in film dried up, Curtis struggled with cocaine and alcohol abuse. He eventually overcame those problems and transformed from leading man to character actor, taking roles on TV.
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.
