International
Sequel of Casablanca on anvil
MUMBAI: An American producer Cass Warner is planning to make a sequel to the 1942-made Hollywood classic Casablanca that starred Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
The film — the lines of which like Here‘s looking at you kid and Play it again, Sam — are still quoted by film lovers, revolved around two star-crossed lovers Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund who reunite in Casablanca during the World-War II only to separate later.
Warner is trying to find backers for a proposal written by the late Howard Koch, one of the three who got a screenwriting Oscar for the film.
Titled Return to Casablanca, the sequel would follow the story of Richard Blaine, the son of Bogart‘s Rick Blaine and Ingrid Bergman‘s Ilsa Lund as he tries to find his father. The boy was conceived the night Ilsa came to Rick‘s place to plead for the Letters of Transit, and she kept it a secret from her husband Victor Laszlo, played by Paul Henreid.
Among the skeptics about the remake is Stephen Bogart, the 64-year-old son of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. “If they want to make a movie about intrigue in North Africa, that‘s fine, but bringing the specter of one of the greatest movies of all time into it makes it just another feeble attempt at Casablanca 2,” Stephen has reportedly said.
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.
