International
Mission Impossible grosses $68.2 million in 1st weekend
MUMBAI: The Tom Cruise-starrer Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol grossed an estimated $68.2 million.
The fourth entry in the action franchise played in 6,079 sites in 36 markets. South Korea led a string of number one debuts on $11.1m from 948 venues over four days, followed by Japan on $9m from 343 over three and Russia on $6.1m from 680.
Ghost Protocol scored the biggest launch in history on the UAE on $2.4mn from 27 sites. It launched on $5.2m in France from 616 and topped the charts in Australia on $4.2m from 240. The combined Middle Eastern total amounts to $3.5m for the biggest opening weekend for any film in the region.
DreamWorks Animation‘s Puss In Boots took another giant stride towards the $200m mark as $30.4m through PPI from 6,054 sites propelled the running total to $188.2m. The film opened in Italy on $3.3m from 385, while Germany led holdover business with $4.9m from 693 for $13m.
In the third weekend in France $3.7m from 1,049 pushed the tally to $19.4m. Puss In Boots stands at $12.2m in Brazil and has reached $10.3m in Mexico after three, $7.7m in Australia and $6.6m in the UK and an excellent $4.7m in Argentina, all after two.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows launched in six markets through Warner Bros Pictures international and generated $14.7m from 2,113 screens. The UK led the way with a $5.8m number one debut from 1,040 followed by Italy on an outstanding $5m number one from 575.
Fox International reported that Alvin & the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked launched in 38 markets day-and-date with North America to bring in $14.5m from 3,815 screens. Only six of the markets were top 16 markets and these included $4m from the UK from 756 screens for number two and $1.6m from 1,022 in Mexico for number one. The Spanish debut delivered a $1.5m number two finish from 364.
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.
