International
Barbara Streisand to helm 1st film in 16 years
MUMBAI: Veteran Barbra Streisand is ready to get back to direction with a film called Skinny and Cat. This will be her first film in 16 years.
The 70-year-old actress has tapped Colin Firth and Cate Blanchett as the lead couple in the upcoming film that is about the love story between late author Erskine Caldwell and Margaret Bourke White.
Skinny and Cat, which is expected to roll in January 2013, will mark Streisand‘s first directing stint since 1996‘s The Mirror Has Two Faces.
Besides preparing for Skinny and Cat, Streisand is keeping herself busy with some other projects. She has been attached to the big screen take on Broadway musical Gypsy to be written by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes. She will also appear in The Guilt Trip alongside Seth Rogen.
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.
