International
Grey takes top honours at weekend box office
MUMBAI: American action thriller, The Grey, has surpassed analyst expectations to rake in $20 million in the US and Canadian cinemas to lead the box office over the weekend.
The Liam Neeson starring movie had earned positive appraisal from the critics and was predicted to earn $14.5 million. The movie released 27 January across 3,185 US and Canadian theatres and earned an average of $6,279 per-theatre.
The movie was bought for $5 million by distributor Open Road Films, owned by Regal Entertainment Group, AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. and Cinemark Holdings Inc. It was launched in response to shrinking output by major studios.This was the distributor’s second release following “Killer Elite” in September.
The film also went past last week’s top film Underworld: Awakening, which has been relegated to second position with sales worth $12.5 million. The vampire-versus-wolf series has earned $45.1 million since it opened on 20 January.
At the third spot was Katherine Heigl-starring One for the Money, which had sales worth $11.8 million in its first weekend. While, Anthony Hemingway-directed Red Tails war film about black fighter pilots in World War Two, got $10.4 million to land in fourth place in its second weekend in theaters.
Fifth on the box office was Sam Worthington-starring thriller film Man on a Ledge with sales of $8.3 million, according to Hollywood.com Box-Office.
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.
