International
Two films in tug of war for No.1 spot
MUMBAI: In a relatively close race with the Rachel McAdams-Channing Tatum’s The Vow, the Denzel Washington-Ryan Reynolds action film Safe House has grossed $ 24 million in the three-day weekend compared to $23.6 million grossed by the former.
Universal has estimated that Safe House will earn $28.5 million for the four-day holiday weekend, while Screen Gems and parent company Sony are estimating that The Vow will gross $27.4 million.
Both films fared well in their second weekends out doing new entires Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance and Fox‘s romantic action-comedy This Means War. While the inputs of Safe House fell 40 per cent that of The Vow declined 43 per cent.
Internationally, Safe House grossed $6 million from 35 markets in its second outing bringing its foreign income to $19.6 million and worldwide total to $97.9 million.
The Vow, co-produced and co-financed by Spyglass, has earned $85.5 million in its first five days domestically, becoming the highest-grossing Screen Gems title ever at the domestic box office. Overseas, the film grossed $6.8 million in its second weekend from 24 markets for an international cume of $22.8 million and worldwide total of $108.3 million.
Sony‘s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance grossed $22 million for the three-day weekend to take the No. 3 spot though the film is expected to post a four-day holiday gross of $25.5 million.
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, receiving a tepid C+ CinemaScore, was fueled by males, who made up 61% of the audience. Moviegoers under the age of 25 made up 48 percent of the audience. Sony and Hyde Park Entertainment co-produced and co-financed the sequel, which cost $57 million to produce.
This Means War opened at No. 5 for the three-day weekend grossing an estimated $17.6 million. The romantic drama lost the No. 4 spot to Warner Bros. and New Line‘s sequel Journey 2: The Mysterious Island that grossed $20.1 million for the three-day weekend.
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.
