More people participating in the arts and cultural activity Arts Minister Frank Sartor and Tourism Minister Matt Brown today hailed the NSW film industry’s biggest foray into Bollywood an outstanding success, as Heyy Babyy becomes a smash hit in India.
The film was filmed in Sydney earlier this year with a large local cast and crew and features extensive shots of the harbour city.
‘The NSW Film and Television office (FTO) is reporting that the film sold out all weekend across India, with people lining up for hours for advance tickets,’ Mr Sartor said.
‘We’re also hearing that it is the second biggest Indian film this year in the UK and one of the biggest to open in the US this year.
‘It’s an impressive opening for the biggest Bollywood production shot in Australia and a major coup for the State.
‘The FTO led the effort to secure the production for Sydney, lobbying the filmmakers and committing to provide production liaison assistance.
‘The filming alone injected more than $2 million directly into the NSW economy, proving again the financial benefits generated by our local film and television industries.’
Heyy Babyy is based on the Hollywood film, Three Men and a Baby and features five of India’s most popular stars.
‘The NSW Government, through the FTO, has pioneered initiatives to attract Indian films to NSW in recognition of the potential of this major media market,’ Mr Sartor said.
‘In 1998, we brought another Bollywood film, Prem Aggan, to NSW and have subsequently hosted many music videos, TV commercials, TV series and feature films.
‘In fact, the four biggest Indian TV commercials to come to Australia were shot in Sydney.
‘An important strategy has been to take Indian producers and local production companies with ties to India around NSW to showcase our superb filming locations.
‘The FTO has also provided development finance to several Australian producers working on film and television projects with Indian themes.’
Mr Brown said India is the fastest growing market for travel to Australia.
[release from Office of the Hon Frank Sartor, Minister for
Planning, Minister for Redfern-Waterloo, Minister for the Arts]