International
MIB III displaces Dictator from spot 1 in Australia
MUMBAI: Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones’ latest film Men In Black III, that opened across 592 screens in Australia took $ 5.001 million for a screen average of $8,449, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia.
The third installment of the action comedy – which launched the first in the trilogy in 1997 – is directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, who also directed the previous two. The film took just over $5m in its first weekend at the box office.
The film displaced Sacha Baron Cohen’s The Dictator from the number one spot. The Dictator took $2.452 million across 344 screens for a screen average of $7,130, taking $9.669 million to date.
In third place, The Avengers remained firm in its fifth week taking in $2.262 million across 480 screens for a $ 4,714 average. The result takes the comic book heroes to $ 46.986 million and 8th place on the all time box office record.
Costume drama Bel Ami that stars Robert Pattinson and directed by Declan Donnellan, that also released this week, took $0.264m at the box office and was placed 6th.
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.
