International
Swedish actor Erland Josephson expires
MUMBAI: Swedish actor Swedish actor Erland Josephson, best known for his many collaborations with director Ingmar Bergman, expired on 25 February in Stockholm after a lengthy battle with Parkinson‘s disease. He was 88.
In his long career, Josephson, the self-trained actor appeared in nearly 100 films and TV series as well as countless stage productions. His best-known work was with Bergman, whom he met during the late 1930s when he just 16 years old, was cast in a production of The Merchant of Venice that Bergman was directing at the age of 21.
It was the beginning of a lifelong collaboration that saw the actor and director work together on 40 films and stage plays including classics like Scenes From a Marriage (1973) and Fanny and Alexander (1982).
Though he was invited by Hollywood, Josephson preferred the European film and theatre scene. He reportedly turned down Richard Dreyfuss‘ role in Jaws 2 saying that he‘d prefer to have “intellectual battles with Liv Ullmann than fight with some shark.
In addition to his acting, Josephson was creative director of Sweden‘s Royal Dramatic Theater from 1966-75 — a position he took over from Bergman. He was a prolific writer of plays, novels and memoirs. He also directed Marmalade Revolution (1980) that was screened in the competition section at the Berlin International Film Festival.
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.
