International
The Lion King rules North American box office
MUMBAI: The 3D re-release of the 1994 made The Lion King has edged out the Steven Soderbergh-directed Warner Bros. film Contagion to be on the top spot of the North American box office on its debut weekend.
The film has done much better than the studio executives had expected, earning $29.3 million from around 2,330 cinema halls in the US and Canada during the weekend.
Pixar‘s Toy Story and its 2009 3D sequel held the record earlier when it garnered $12.5 million in its opening weekend. And it so happened that being the biggest blockbuster from the stables of Disney, the film also had two made-for-video sequels, a television series and a Broadway musical.
The Lion King was reproduced in its 3D version mainly due to the existence of a huge audience in their twenties and families who account for 74 per cent of the viewing public.
The original Lion King released in 1994 maintains the record of the fifth highest grossing animated film and continues to be the highest-grossing hand drawn animation film ever made.
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.
