International
Cameron to go down 11km in the Pacific
MUMBAI: James Cameron is soon to dive to the deepest place on Earth in a one-man submarine. His vessel, named the Deepsea Challenger, will carry him 11km down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific.
The director will spend his nine-hour dive in a thick, metal sphere with an internal diameter of just 109cm (43in) where he will be unable to stretch his arms or legs. The rest of the sub is made from specially designed syntactic foam, similar to the material from which a surf board is made. It counterbalances the weight of the pilot‘s compartment, which will have to protect Cameron from 1,000 atmospheres of pressure.
When Cameron attempts the Mariana dive, a science team headed up by Doug Bartlett from the Scripps Institute will be dropping a lander fitted with 3D cameras and baited to attract any passing life.
Don Walsh, who made the first and the only manned mission to the Mariana Trench with Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard in 1960, has joined the team. Once they can get a few days of good weather, the team hopes to first make an unmanned 11km dive with the sub to check that it works properly and then send Cameron down.
Cameron and his team had earlier performed a similar feat; taking a successful 8,200m test-dive in Papua New Guinea.
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.
