International
Michael Bay to direct Transformers 4
MUMBAI: After signing a two-film deal with Paramount, Michael Bay will direct the fourth instalment in Paramount‘s Transformers franchise. This would be preceded by a bodybuilding film Pain and Gain.
Bay will direct the fourth film based on the Hasbro toy line. The third instalment in the franchise, Transformers: Dark of the Moon released last summer in 3D.
Producer Di Bonaventura has been quoted as saying that the film would be a reboot of the franchise and that none of the cast of the original three movies have been signed for the project. It’s likely that he and Bay would create at least a few new characters for the film, it is understood.
Pain and Gain is based on a true story and centers on a group of bodybuilders engaged in a campaign of kidnapping and murder in Florida is being produced by Bay, Donald De Line and Bryce.
“Michael has been working on Pain and Gain for a number of years but has patiently waited for the perfect casting to trigger a start,” said Paramount Film Group president Adam Goodman in a statement. “Clearly his patience has paid off as we couldn‘t be more excited about this combo. His passion for this project is just awesome,” he added.
Transformers 4 will release on 29 June, 2014.
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.
