International
Katie Holmes to be part of ‘The Giver’
Mumbai: Katie Holmes has finalised a deal to be a part of ‘The Giver’, a drama from the Weinstein Company and Walden Media. The movie is directed by Phillip Noyce.
Brenton Thwaites plays the lead role in the movie that talks about a world where there is no sickness, racism or conflict.
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Thwaites plays the role of a young boy who is selected for his life service as Receiver of Memories with ‘The giver’ (Jeff Bridges) who is an old man teaching the boy to use his unique gifts of the senses.
Meryl Streep plays the society’s chief elder, an authoritarian woman who assigns young kids tasks to do. Holmes will be playing the mother of Thwaites. Her role is that of a strict obeyer of the rules of the society that can be named as an antiseptic society.
Michael Mitnick has scripted the adaptation and will be shot in South Africa.
The movie is eying a budget of around $25 million.
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.
