International
Oprah gets DVF Awards honour
MUMBAI: Oprah Winfrey has been honoured with a “Lifetime Leadership” award at the third annual DVF Awards.
Winfrey, 58, was hugged by long-time friend, designer and humanitarian Diane von Furstenberg, as she took the stage to accept the accolade on Friday night, Channel 24 reported.
Von Furstenberg called Winfrey the “most formidable person I have ever met in my life”. The famous chat show host spent much of her speech honouring another of the night‘s award winners, Jaycee Dugard, who was abducted when she was 11 and held against her will for 18 years.
Dugard took the stage soon after and got emotional as she thanked her mother for never giving up hope of finding her. She also spoke about her JAYC Foundation, which supports families dealing with abduction and other tragedies.
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.
