International
Life of Pi tops intl. box office for second week in running
MUMBAI: Life of Pi has topped the international box-office chart for the second consecutive week as it collected $33.2 million from 9,347 screens in 67 markets. Its overseas total has jumped up to a handsome figure of $357.4 million.
Opening No. 1 in the Philippines, the Fox release drew its highest weekend tally in Russia ($4.4 million from 1,575 sites for a market total of $25 million).
The best market however remains the UK where the film generated $3.8 million in its fourth frame from 673 sites for a territory total of $35.5 million.
Warner Bros‘ The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey placed second collected $26.1 million from more than 10,000 screens in 63 markets. The film‘s collection in the overseas market surpassed the $600 million mark to $608 million.
Garnering record-breaking No. 1 openings in the UK and New Zealand, Universal‘s Les Miserables bagged $25.5 million overall on the weekend at 2,432 screens in 22 territories, thus amassing an international gross total to $115.1 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.
