International
Sean Penn organizes charity for Haiti
MUMBAI: 51-year-old Sean Penn recently hosted a benefit for the J/P Haitian Relief Organization. The event, called Cinema for Peace, was on the occasion of the second anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti.
Subtitled Help Haiti Home with Sean Penn & Friends, the event was supported by Penn‘s friends that include Bryan Lourd, a partner at CAA; Jeff Robinov, the president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group; Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton and film stars like Demi Moore, Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Josh Brolin and Diane Lane, James Gandolfini, Hilary Swank, Orlando Bloom, Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts.
Ms. Roberts said that Mr. Penn wrote her a “very long, eloquent letter” inviting her to participate in the evening. “At the end of the letter, he wrote, ‘So, wouldya?‘ How could I say no? You can‘t say no. And this is nothing compared to what Sean does for all these people.”
In one of the more reported moments of the evening, Penn was named an Ambassador-at-Large to the country.
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.
