International
John Woo’s ‘Chinese Titanic’ begins shooting in Beijing
MUMBAI: John Woo‘s return to directing after a four-year hiatus with The Crossing is now underway in Beijing, the production companies behind the project announced in a statement.
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The big-budget project is being dubbed as the Chinese Titanic by local Chinese media, and stars a bevy of local A-listers, including Zhang Ziyi, Huang Xiaoming, and Tong Dawei, along with South Korea‘s Song Hye Kyo; Japan‘s Masami Nagasawa; and Taiwan‘s Takeshi Kaneshiro.
The film will be released in two parts – much like Woo‘s last project, historical epic, Red Cliff (2008), Red Cliff II (2009) – and tells the story of three couples cast aboard a ship in the South China Sea, fleeing China for Taiwan during the 1949 revolution. The screenplay is written by Wang Huiling, best known for co-writing Ang Lee‘s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and adapting Lust Caution.
Originally titled 1949, and planned since 2009, the project was reportedly delayed due to challenges in getting the script approved because of political sensitivities in China surrounding any portrayal of the revolutionary era.
The two-part film is budgeted at $40 million and jointly backed by Beijing Galloping Horse, China Film Group and Zhejiang Huace Film & TV, with Woo and Terence Chang‘s Lion Rock Productions banner attached.
Woo already has his next film in the works, the long-planned World War II drama Flying Tigers, which is expected to go into production in 2014.
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.
