International
Nicole Kidman to play Grace Kelly
MUMBAI: Nicole Kidman is in talks to portray Grace Kelly in Grace of Monaco, the project that centers on the actress-turned-princess. The actress is in the process of attaching herself to what is being envisioned as a $30 million production and is being compared in tone to The King‘s Speech.
Monaco is the second high-profile project in the works featuring midcentury Hollywood stars. The film isn‘t a biopic and instead focuses on a six-month period in 1962 when the city-state got into a heated dispute with France, which grew tired of the petite principality being a tax haven.Kelly, still relatively new in her role as princess, maneuvered behind the scenes to save Monaco from a coup.
Olivier Dahan, known for the Edith Piaf biopic La Vie en rose, is helming the period film. Le Pogam is producing and financing the picture. CAA is handling domestic rights and Wild Bunch is selling international.
Kelly was an actress who broke through playing opposite Gary Cooper in 1952’s High Noon and quickly became Alfred Hitchcock’s favorite blond with a trio of classic films. She married Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1955 and soon retired from acting. Her death in 1982, after suffering astroke and losing control of her car while driving the twisty streets of Monaco, shocked the world. Nearly 100 million people watched her funeral on TV.
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.
