International
Universal teams up with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci
MUMBAI: Universal Pictures has signed a two-year first-look production deal with one of the leading writing/producing teams in the entertainment industry, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, and their K/O Paper Products banner.
The duo will kick off their new relationship with Universal by reimagining titles from the studio‘s library including Van Helsing and The Mummy, according to Universal Pictures‘ chairman, Adam Fogelson and co-chairman Donna Langley.
It is reported that Tom Cruise is set to star and produce the remake of 2004 vampire movie Van Helsing. It will be one of the first works of Kurtzman and Orci under their new two-year production deal with Universal Pictures.
Earlier, Kurtzman and Orci have collaborated with some of the industry‘s top creative minds including J.J. Abrams, with whom they wrote the third installment of Mission: Impossible that grossed nearly $400 million at the worldwide box office.
In 2007, they wrote Transformers and went on to write Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in 2009. Together, these films grossed more than $1.5 billion worldwide.
More recently, the pair wrote and executive produced 2009‘s Star Trek that grossed more than $385 million worldwide.
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.
