International
Judi Dench bids goodbye to Bond films with Skyfall
MUMBAI: With the death of M in Skyfall, Judi Dench‘s appearance in a James Bond film seems to have ended.
As the head of MI6, M, Dench has been the Bond matriarch:
The strong-willed, no-nonsense mainstay of feminine authority in a film franchise that has, more often than not, featured slightly more superficial womanly traits.
Skyfall is Dench‘s seventh Bond film, an unimpeachable reign that has encompassed both the Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan eras of the British spy. For a number of reasons, Skyfall is her most notable Bond film.
"It‘s very nice to be out from behind the desk," Dench has reportedly said in a recent interview. "It‘s extremely nice to get a go in the field, as it were, and get a bit of the action. It made me feel very grown-up. It‘s not just the fellas who are spinning about and shooting guns – I get a go," she added.
As soon as Dench entered the world of Bond, she made it clear she was a force to be reckoned with – certainly not one that some gun-toting playboy would push around. Introducing herself to Bond in 1995‘s Goldeneye, the bourbon-drinking M promptly informs Brosnan‘s Bond that she isn‘t a ‘bean-counter‘, as Bond admits to thinking.
So over seven films and 17 years, the 77-year-old Dench, has, like other legendary stage actors from Alec Guinness (Star Wars) to Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings), become best known to many for a blockbuster movie franchise.
Dench inherited the role of M from Robert Brown, who played the character from 1983‘s Octopussy through 1989‘s License to Kill. Bernard Lee whom Dench calls a hero of hers, initiated Ian Fleming‘s secret service head, playing him for 11 films.
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.
