International
Flopped The Lone Ranger to cost Disney $190 million
MUMBAI: As per the reports, Disney CFO Jay Rasulo has informed that the company is likely to incur a loss of about $160 – $190 million next quarter as a result of The Lone Ranger‘s weak box office run.
The Gore Verbinski-directed western, which stars Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer, cost at least $215 million to produce but has only earned $175.5 million worldwide (it‘s only opened in about 40 percent of international markets) since its release on 3 July. Domestically, the film has earned $86.9 million – a larger total than Disney‘s 2012 mega-flop John Carter, which topped out at $73.1 million, but an alarmingly low one nonetheless.
For Disney, the loss hurts, but it isn‘t crippling. The company‘s portfolio now includes cash cows like Pixar, Marvel, and the Star Wars empire, the former two of which already delivered massive returns this summer with Iron Man 3 and Monsters University grossing $1.2 billion and $614 million worldwide. And Disney recognises that its plan to produce fewer movies but make them all tentpoles is a high-risk/high reward business. “This branded tentpole strategy of ours, it‘s 100 percent what we‘re looking to do and what we want to be,” said Disney executive VP of distribution Dave Hollis, following The Lone Ranger‘s disappointing opening 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.
