International
Spider-Man director Marc Webb interested in film sequel
MUMBAI Going by the success of The Amazing Spider-Man, director Marc Webb has evinced interest in creating a totally new adversary for the web-slinger.
“I do think it would be tricky to totally invent a major villain, but if I did that it would be The Mime,” Web has reportedly said. “My big contribution would be a villain called The Mime.”
Insisting that he was kidding, the director said that the character‘s history is so rich with foes that whoever directs a sequel will have plenty of interesting ones to choose from. “I think you have to be pretty protective of the canon when it comes to villains,” he observed. “And Spider-Man has a great rogues gallery, so there‘s a lot to choose from,” he added.
Meanwhile, Webb said that he feels like the combination of proven story points and new ideas will allow a sequel to depart from iterations of the hero that audiences saw previously. “I wanted to create a universe that works in and of itself for one movie, but I wanted to create a universe that not only can withstand but anticipate future storylines,” he quipped.
Webb also said that he derived his approach to the film from the one employed by artistes and writers to the comic book itself. “That‘s something I love about the comics — the serialized nature of them,” he averred. “And then certain storylines we‘ll pick up and characters that we‘ll expand upon, but it‘s all part of the mythology that we spent a lot of time developing early on,” he ended.
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.
