Evelyn Yamine The Daily Telegraph
SYDNEY is the star of a new Bollywood film.
Prateek Chakravorty loved the time he spent as a student in Sydney so much that he wrote a movie script set in the heart of the city. Drawing on his own experiences here, he created a story about an Indian woman – played by actress Bidita Bag – who gets a scholarship to the University of NSW. The film follows her experiences here, including her love life.
From Sydney … With Love – the first Bollywood movie with Sydney in its title – began filming on Thursday and will employ about 500 Australian cast and crew in the next five weeks.
Mr Chakravorty – who is also directing, producing and acting in the movie – said he was excited to be back in Sydney.
“This is an idea conceived about four years back and finally that dream has been realised,” he said.
Bollywood-style singing and dancing is an integral part of the movie, which will also feature a song sequence with Sydney in the lyrics.
Head of the Australian production Anupam Sharma said it was great exposure for Sydney. “It’s a very vibrant, commercial and creative aspect of the Australian film industry,” Mr Sharma said.
“It will showcase Australia to hundreds of millions, and potentially a billion, people around the world.”
Scenes for the movie have already been shot at Bondi, Circular Quay, the Opera House, Central Station and others will be filmed at the university later this month.