International
Ape story grosses $ 54 million at box office
MUMBAI: 20th Century Fox‘s Rise of the Planet of the Apes opened to $54 million at the domestic box office, 20 million more than the best forecast.
Overseas, the film exceeded expectations too, grossing a robust $23.4 million from 25 territories, including four major markets like Australia, Spain, Russia and Taiwan, where it topped the box office charts.
Directed by Rupert Wyatt and starring James Franco, Rise premiered in at least nine markets with Spain ($5.2 million from 517 sites), Australia ($5.1 million from 359 locations) and Russia ($5.09 million from 1,012 situations) leading the list.
Fox said weekend action exceeded expectations “given only four of the top 15 international markets are in release.”
Rise of the Apes is particularly drawing notice for its photo-realistic apes created by Peter Jackson‘s Weta Digital using advanced performance capture technology. “The combination of never-before-seen special effects combined with a powerful, emotional story made for a supremely satisfying epxerience at the movies,” Fox senior vice president of domestic distribution Chris Aronson said.
Thanks to a great debut, which Warner Bros. estimates at $25.5 million drawn from 4,200 venues, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 remained at the top spot grossing $61.8 million from 15,632 screens in 61 markets.
Finishing at No. 3 on the weekend was Marvel Studios‘ Captain America: The First Avenger has gone past the $100-million overseas gross mark ($103 million) since it began its foreign run on 22 July. Worldwide, the film has registered $246.2 million.
Latest weekend, the film drew $27.5 million from 5,037 locations in 41 territories, bolstered by openings in Spain ($2.5 million from 381 spots), Hong Kong and Israel. The film opens in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and India this week.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon, that opened offshore on 29 June has till date totally grossed $693.5 million. The film pulled $17.5 million from 10,680 venues in 62 markets including strong holdovers in Japan and China and a No. 1 bow in Indonesia ($1.8 million from 98 locations) last weekend.
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.
