International
Lion King short of claiming No 3 spot
MUMBAI: In a big surprise, Disney’s The Lion King is doing exceedingly well and if all goes well, it is about to edge out Pixar’s Finding Nemo and become the fourth top-grossing animated film of all time to claim the no. 3 spot.
Till Sunday, the film has grossed $77.7 million globally, including a 10-day domestic total of $61.7 million. That puts the film’s total gross at $862.1 million, just behind Finding Nemo’s worldwide tally of $867.9 million.
Moreover, Lion King shows signs of eclipsing Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs ($886.7 million) and take the No. 3 spot, considering that it will do another $40 million business worldwide.
The No. 1 animated pic of all time worldwide is Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 3 ($1.1 billion), followed by DreamWorks Animations’ Shrek 2 ($919 million), Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Nemo and rounding out the top five is Lion King.
“During the daytime, we are seeing family business. But in the evening, it’s a date-night title for a generation that loved the film when they were younger,” said Disney executive vice president of distribution Dave Hollis.
According to exit polling, couples make up 20 percent of Lion King’s audience, while teens make up roughly 9 percent. The remainder of the audience is families.
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.
