'Indian cinema catching up with international standards'

CHANDIGARH: The Hindi film industry is fast "internationalising itself," noted director-producer Harry Baweja said on Tuesday.

"We are catching up fast with international cinema. The quality, special effects and content are attracting overseas markets," Baweja told reporters here.

Baweja, who had a meeting with Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator General SF Rodrigues (Retd), said the latter was keen to project the city as a film destination.

"The Governor feels more films should be shot in Chandigarh and Punjab," he said.

Baweja also spoke on his forthcoming big budget film, which would mark the debut of his 27-year-old son, Harman Baweja.

"The film, 'Love Story 2050,' is a Rs 50-crore budget science fiction to be released on July 4. Priyanka Chopra has been cast opposite Harman. We hired the services of top special effect studios from Canada, US and Australia to shoot the film," he said.

He said the services of John Cox, who had won an Oscar for animation, has been hired for the movie, while Anu Malik has composed the music score.

On decline of the Punjabi film industry over the years, Baweja said, "The quality of films has definitely gone down, but with more multiplexes opening in Punjab, it would attract more audiences and film makers would also churn out quality stuff".