International
Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson in Saving Mr Banks
MUMBAI: Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson have been signed to play pivotal roles in a film based on Disney‘s Mary Poppins titled Saving Mr Banks.
The film, scripted by Kelly Marcel, details how Walt Disney spent 14 years coaxing PL Travers, the Australian author of Mary Poppins, to adapt her books about the magical nanny.
Travers resisted for a long time because she feared Disney would make an animated adaptation. The studio finally made a live-action movie in 1964 that starred Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. But the film was not without the animated sequences that turned Travers off from working with Disney again.
The studio picked up the Black List script earlier this year and later signed John Lee Hancock to direct.
Hanks is currently shooting for Sony‘s true-life tale Captain Phillips about a captain who dealt with Somali pirates during the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama. Thompson, who will be seen in Men in Black III has done a voice over in Pixar‘s Brave.
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.
