New Delhi: The first India-Vietnam co-production, Love in Vietnam, has secured a 10,000-screen theatrical release in China, with Shanghai YC Media and Film acquiring distribution rights.
The film’s ensemble cast has Shantanu Maheshwari, Avneet Kaur, and acclaimed Vietnamese actor Kha Ngan. Veteran actors Farida Jalal, Raj Babbar, and Gulshan Grover are also part of the film. It is directed by Rahhat Shah Kazmi.
The film is inspired by the global bestseller Madonna in a Fur Coat, written by Sabahattin Ali. It is set to release on 12 September across theatres in India. The film will be released in China on Christmas.
“Love in Vietnam has been a dream project. We have put our heart and soul into this film, and it is truly a matter of pride as we have created history by acquiring 10,000 screens in China even before our India release,” Kazmi said.
The trailer begins in the rural landscape of Punjab, with Kaur playing a small–town girl in love with her classmate, played by Maheshwari. His father then sends him to Vietnam, where he falls in love again.
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Bollywood magic in China
Bollywood has been a big draw in China since Raj Kapoor’s Awaara (1951), a phenomenon that continued with Noorie (1979) and Disco Dancer (1982).
But the biggest crowd-puller has been Aamir Khan, when his anti-colonial cricketing epic Lagaan released in the country in 2011. His films, Taare Zameen Par (2007), PK (2014), and even Secret Superstar (2017), have been massive hits in China. But the biggest blockbuster was Dangal (2016), which collected $200 million at the Chinese box office.
But Covid-19 and border skirmishes with India led to a temporary suspension of Indian films in the Chinese market. In 2022, this changed with Chhichhore. Tamil film Maharaja, starring Vijay Sethupathi and Anurag Kashyap, earned $10 million in 2024.
Now, Love in Vietnam is looking to create magic at the box office.
“When our team watched the film’s rough cut, we became so attached to it. It is not just a film, but a journey of emotions that touches your heart, irrespective of language and cultural barriers,” said Jessica Zhen, Partner, International Film Distribution Division at Shanghai YC Media and Film.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)