International
Charlize Theron to star in revenge drama Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
MUMBAI: Charlize Theron has confirmed that she would star in Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, an adaptation of the final installment of Park Chan-Wook‘s revenge trilogy.
While William Monahan has been tapped to pen the script for the project, Megan Ellison‘s Annapurna Pictures would finance the film. "This will be very American and very unexpected," said Monahan in a statement. "Park is a genius; it?s the Everest of adaptations and I‘ve got blood in my teeth to do it."
The 2005 South Korean movie is centered on a woman who spends 13 years in prison for a crime she did not commit and then sets about exacting the revenge she has plotted during her time behind bars.
Theron‘s Denver & Delilah Films and CJ Entertainment have been developing the remake since 2008. The actress had until now been only involved in the project as a producer. The film will now be produced jointly by Theron with her Denver & Delilah partner Beth Kono, Annapurna‘s Ellison and Chelsea Barnard, CJ Entertainment‘s Ted Kim and Monahan. No director is currently attached.
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.
