International
Oscar-nominated Hollywood screenwriter Nora Ephron no more
MUMBAI: Oscar-nominated Hollywood screenwriter and director Nora Ephron expired on Tuesday in New York at the age of 71.
Ephron died in Manhattan of complications from the blood disorder myelodysplasia, with which she was diagnosed six years ago. She is survived by her husband and two sons.
Her 15 film credits include films like You‘ve Got Mail, Silkwood and Julie and Julia that was her last film in 2009. Though she was nominated for an Oscar three times, she never won the award.
Ephron was born on 19 May 1941 in New York to a Broadway playwright and a Hollywood screenwriter. She took her mother‘s advice – “take notes, everything is copy” – very seriously and turned wry personal observations on relationships into hugely successful romantic comedies.
From an early age, Ephron wrote essays for major US magazines from the late 1960s as well as several non-fiction books, including two recent memoirs.
She was married three times, once to Carl Bernstein, the Washington Post reporter who helped uncover the ‘Watergate‘ scandal. Their marriage ended publicly when he began an affair with the wife of the then-British ambassador, Margaret Jay, who was also the daughter of former British Prime Minister James Callaghan.
Ephron‘s divorce from Bernstein resulted in the novel Heartburn that she converted into a film starring Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson.
Her first marriage to writer Dan Greenburg ended in 1976. Ephron‘s third marriage to Nicholas Pileggi, who wrote the screenplays for the Martin Scorsese films Goodfellas and Casino, lasted for more than 20 years.
Rumours of her death started circulating on Tuesday evening after her friend, celebrity columnist Liz Smith, published an online memorial.
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.
