From the long-awaited WWII epic honouring a Māori Battalion hero to Akshay Kumar’s horror-comedy shifting release dates and a landmark Russian-Bollywood musical hitting screens, the global film landscape enters April with significant momentum.

By Mahesh Sahu
Cinema and Entertainment Industry Writer
Zealandia News

April 1, 2026 — AUCKLAND

As the new month begins, New Zealand’s cinema landscape is preparing for one of its most significant domestic releases in years. Sgt. Haane, the long-awaited feature from award-winning director Tearepa Kahi, will open nationwide on April 23, timed to coincide with Anzac Day commemorations . The film tells the never-before-told true story of Lance Sergeant Haane Manahi DCM (Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa) of B Company, 28th Māori Battalion, whose extraordinary bravery during the 1943 Battle of Takrouna in Tunisia drew rare praise from British commanders .

The release comes amid a busy period for cinema in Aotearoa and across the globe, with significant developments in Bollywood, Hollywood, and the growing cultural bridge between Russia and India all unfolding in recent days.

Sgt. Haane: A Story 80 Years in the Telling

For those unfamiliar with the story, Sgt. Haane recounts one of the most remarkable acts of courage in New Zealand military history. At five minutes to midnight on April 19, 1943, Manahi led a small group of B Company soldiers — all cousins — in an assault up the near-vertical limestone pinnacle of Takrouna, Tunisia, which was defended by more than 300 enemy troops . By morning, after severe casualties and the collapse of the chain of command, Manahi took charge, repelling repeated counterattacks through hand-to-hand combat to secure the critical strategic position for the Allies .

Lieutenant General Sir Brian Horrocks described Manahi’s actions as “the most gallant feat of arms I witnessed in the course of the war” . Yet Manahi was denied the Victoria Cross — recommended by three generals and a Field Marshal — by an unnamed member of the British War Office, a decision never explained and never reversed . The film does not dwell on this controversy, however. Director Tearepa Kahi has deliberately chosen to focus instead on what Manahi and his comrades actually did, and on the enduring memory of their actions within their whānau and community.

The film is notable not only for its subject matter but for its narrative structure. Kahi weaves between the memories of direct descendants and dramatic depictions of their ancestors across a single canvas, opening in present-day Ōhinemutu, Rotorua — B Company’s homeland — where Manahi’s descendants are inspired by his memory on the eve of Anzac Day 2025 . The story then moves into the drama of the events leading up to the battle, carefully crafting archival footage with intimate testimony passed down through generations.

Alex Tarrant (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, NCIS: Hawaiʻi) stars as Haane Manahi, alongside Niwa Whatuira (The Dark Horse, M3GAN 2.0), Vinnie Bennett (Whina, F9: The Fast Saga), Matuera Ngaropo (Whina), and Poroaki Merritt-McDonald (Muru, The Gone) . Their performances are woven together with the voices of Māori Battalion descendants, including Dr Donna Morrison (Manahi’s niece, who also serves as a producer), Kīngi Biddle, Colin Bennett, Raimona Inia, and Anaru Grant Jr .

Producer Dr Donna Morrison said she did not know much about her uncle in terms of the military growing up. “But I do remember him vividly as my swimming coach,” she told Scoop. “That’s how I learnt how to survive. Not really how to swim, but how to survive” .

The film is produced by Reikura Kahi, Selina Joe, and Dr Donna Morrison of Penny Diver Pictures, with investment from NZ On Air, Te Māngai Pāho, the New Zealand Film Commission, and Kiwibank. Rialto Distribution will handle the release in New Zealand and Australia .

Bollywood Box Office Jostling

In India, the April release calendar has undergone significant reshuffling in recent days. Akshay Kumar’s much-anticipated horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla, directed by Priyadarshan, has been pushed from its original April 10 release date to April 17 . The decision comes as Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2 continues its dominant box office run, occupying a majority of screens nationwide. Even Ryan Gosling’s Project Hail Mary, designed for IMAX viewing, reportedly struggled to secure adequate showcasing due to the film’s overwhelming presence .

An industry insider told Variety India that the producers of Bhooth Bangla recognised the challenges in taking on the Ranveer Singh-starrer. “It’s a good business decision. It’s a win for the producers as well as the industry. Even Toxic had avoided a clash with the Aditya Dhar directorial. There should be no ego involved in such decisions” .

Bhooth Bangla marks the long-awaited reunion between Akshay Kumar and filmmaker Priyadarshan after 14 years. The duo has previously delivered several beloved comedies, including Hera Pheri, Garam Masala, Bhagam Bhag, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, De Dana Dan, and Khatta Meetha . The trailer launch, initially scheduled for March 30, has been postponed, with new plans to unveil it in the first week of April.

Meanwhile, Salman Khan is set to begin filming a major new action thriller with Telugu director Vamshi Paidipally and producer Dil Raju from April 14 . The tentatively titled SVC63 marks Paidipally’s first foray into Hindi cinema, though he and Raju have previously collaborated on five blockbusters in Telugu. The film is described as a high-budget action spectacle that will present Khan in a “never-before-seen avatar” . Extensive shoot schedules are planned across India, beginning with a large purpose-built set in Mumbai. The film is targeting a 2027 release .

Russian Cinema Embraces Bollywood

One of the most intriguing international developments comes from Russia, where the musical comedy Persimmon of My Love is set to premiere today, April 1, in Moscow . The film is the first large-scale Russian-Indian co-production in decades, shot entirely in India using the full production capabilities of Bollywood. More than 350 Indian and international crew members worked on set each day, with up to 1,000 people appearing on screen together — in keeping with the visual spectacle traditionally associated with Bollywood cinema .

The film stars well-known Russian actors Demis Karibidis and Mikhail Galustyan as brothers Ramash and Shamar, alongside Adila Ragimova, Albina Kabalina, Artur Vakha, and Sergey Rost. Filming took place in Mumbai and in the historic cities of Udaipur and Jodhpur in Rajasthan .

Tina Kandelaki, director of TNT TV, one of the production companies behind the project, said the film demonstrates “how organically the creative traditions of the two countries can merge: Bollywood’s emotions and music and the Russian drama school” . Director Marius Weisberg praised the professionalism of the Indian crew: “I was astonished by the professionalism and the speed at which the Bollywood teams worked. This is an enormous industry capable of handling the greatest production challenges” .

The project arrives against a backdrop of expanding cultural and economic cooperation between Russia and India, as well as broader collaboration among BRICS partners.

Streaming: What’s New in New Zealand This Week

For those watching from home, several notable titles have arrived on New Zealand streaming services this week.

Emerald Fennell’s controversial adaptation of Wuthering Heights is now available on AroVision, having arrived on March 31 . The film stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, with a soundtrack by Charli XCX. Fennell’s film has divided critics, but The Spinoff notes that “it works best if you try to put the text out of your brain and just enjoy the pleasures of the towering Elordi lifting Robbie with one hand by her corset” .

On TVNZ+, Heath Ledger’s beloved A Knight’s Tale arrives today, April 1 . Described as “unabashedly full of whimsy and silliness,” the 2001 film remains a joyful antidote to the bleak workweek. Also arriving this week on TVNZ+ is the mockumentary sitcom Stumble (April 2) from comedy writers Liz and Jeff Astrof, which follows a champion cheer coach staging a comeback after being fired .

On Netflix, viewers can look forward to XO, Kitty Season 3 (April 2), Bloodhounds Season 2 (April 3), and SPY x FAMILY Season 3 (April 4) . The documentary Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom arrived on March 31.

Apple TV+ launches Season 2 of Your Friends and Neighbours on April 3, with Jon Hamm returning as a hedge fund manager turned cat-burglar . DocPlay offers I Shot the President (March 30), a documentary about John Hinckley Jr., who attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan in 1981 .

For those seeking New Zealand content, director Michelle Savill’s debut feature Millie Lies Low arrives on MĀORI+ on April 5. The film stars Ana Scotney as an architecture student who misses her flight to a New York internship and fakes her new life on social media instead . It has been described as a “shrewd and promising debut” with shades of Fleabag.

Hong Kong Entertainment Expo Continues

The annual Hong Kong Entertainment Expo, which began on March 15, continues through April 19. The event encompasses the Hong Kong International Film Festival (opened April 1), the Hong Kong Film Awards (April 19), the Asian Film Awards, and the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market .

This year’s event has drawn significant international talent, with actress Zhang Ziyi and director Jia Zhangke among those participating. The 30th Hong Kong International Film and TV Market, which concluded in March, featured more than 790 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions .

In Brief

April 2026 is shaping up to be a significant month for cinema in New Zealand and beyond. Sgt. Haane, Tearepa Kahi’s powerful retelling of one of the most extraordinary acts of courage in New Zealand military history, opens nationwide on April 23, timed for Anzac Day. The film represents years of careful research and collaboration with the descendants of the Māori Battalion soldiers it portrays.

In Bollywood, release date reshuffling reflects a competitive marketplace, with Akshay Kumar’s Bhooth Bangla moving to avoid a clash with Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2. Meanwhile, Salman Khan prepares to begin filming a major new action thriller with Telugu director Vamshi Paidipally.

Internationally, the Russian-Bollywood co-production Persimmon of My Love premieres today in Moscow, marking a significant moment in cultural cooperation between the two nations. And for New Zealand viewers, a wealth of new streaming content — including Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights and the Kiwi feature Millie Lies Low — arrives across local platforms this week.

From the battlefields of Tunisia to the soundstages of Mumbai, from the streets of Ōhinemutu to the streaming queues of Auckland, cinema continues to connect stories across time, place, and culture.