The brick red poster of the upcoming movie Demon Hunters announces its intent. Bollywood actor Arjan Bajwa of Fashion and Rustom fame strikes a martial arts pose with his Taiwanese counterpart JC Lin in director Chen Mei-Juin’s film. The horror-comedy movie is the first ever union of Taiwan and India in the reel world.
The India-Taiwan production generated plenty of interest when it debuted at the Cannes Film Market in May and is slated for a global release later this year.
Bajwa plays a computer geek who is the grandson of an exorcist guru. He is approached by Lin’s character, a YouTuber who wants to save his lover from a demon. The film, focusing on the budding friendship between the two as they take on the asura demon, is expected to be full of humour and adventure.
The project has an international production value but seems equally desi at heart. There are two songs and a full-fledged Bollywood-style dance number as well. It’s produced by Taiwan’s Light House Productions and India’s Kleos Entertainment Group with the backing of the Taiwanese government. But at its core, Demon Hunters is a buddy film on the lines of Rush Hour (1998) featuring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker.
“People often think co-productions or crossover films can only be intense or serious. We wanted to change that perception, and show how it can also be fun, and full of action and entertainment,” said Gayathiri Guliani, the founder of Kleos Entertainment told ThePrint.
The Taiwanese government, a minor equity shareholder in the film, offered several incentives to the producers. Cindy Shyu, the founder of Light House Productions, applied for government subsidies in 2023 and received grants from the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA).
Blend of rich cultures
For Guiliani, Bajwa was an obvious choice. As a newcomer in the industry, he made his presence felt as the supportive boyfriend to Priyanka Chopra’s character in Fashion (2008), while in Rustom (2016), he portrayed an egotistic casanova who revels in his wealth.
What sealed the deal was Bajwa’s black belt in Taekwondo. Guiliani knew he would ace the action sequences without breaking a sweat.
“I wanted my Hollywood break to be a full-fledged role and not a blink-and-miss role in an ensemble film. This means opening up more work opportunities,” Bajwa said.
He spent two months in Taiwan for the shoot and was bowled over by the professionalism of the crew.
“We can definitely take notes and learn professionalism from them,” he said. His presence generated a lot of curiosity while shooting, with female fans from Taiwan waiting at his hotel to catch a glimpse of him.
Shyu was born in Taiwan and attended Taipei American School, New York University, and Georgetown University. After her marriage, she also spent time in Hong Kong where she mingled with the Indian community, learning about their culture.
“I decided that we could bring together the Indian and Taoist way of exorcism in this film, but it will also have humour and action. It is not a pure horror film,” Shyu said.
The film’s main antagonist is a demon, or asura, associated with Indian mythology. Extensive research was conducted to incorporate elements from both cultural belief systems without misrepresenting either.
“Just because the film has humour does not mean there is a mockery of any belief systems,” said Guiliani.
Inspired by Jackie Chan movies like The Medallion (2003) and The Forbidden Kingdom (2008), which combined thriller, comedy, and action, Demon Hunters features references to ancient schools of thought. The producers roped in cinematographer Tony Cheung, known for his work in Dragon Blade (2015) and the recent Netflix release Hidden Strike (2023), which features John Cena.
“Given my background in anthropology, the prospect of blending these two rich cultures in a single project was incredibly appealing to me, and I was eager to contribute my expertise to make Shyu’s vision a reality,” said Taiwanese director Chen, who is best known for co-directing a TV documentary film, National Geographic Inside: Kung Fu Secrets (2009).
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Meticulous planning, brisk shoots
On set, the cast and crew had to tackle the usual snafus that are part and parcel of the movie industry.
“One of our most memorable scenes involved our three protagonists being attacked by a zombie chicken,” said Chen. Instead of relying heavily on VFX, the crew created a puppet chicken made of rubber.
“It became the centrepiece of the scene. Our talented action director choreographed an impressive sequence with skilled stuntmen manipulating the chicken puppet. The result was a perfect blend of hilarity and horror,” she added.
For another scene at a historical underground water plant in Taipei that had several filming restrictions, the crew had to plan every detail in advance.
“Although everyone was initially stressed, our meticulous preparation paid off. Coupled with perfect weather conditions, the shoot went surprisingly smoothly. We not only captured the incredible visuals we sought but also managed to wrap up earlier than expected that day,” said Chen.
Guliani entered the project with over 23 years of experience in planning, strategising, developing, and green-lighting local content. While working with Sony Entertainment, she was instrumental in cracking the China market for Bollywood with Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots (2009). This began a trend for Aamir Khan movies in China, with every subsequent release becoming a hit.
“In the case of 3 Idiots, the immediate reason was the bilateral treaty signed between India and China in 2006. With the Hallyu [Korean wave], and interest in both India and Taiwan on the rise, this is a perfect time for this project,” said Guliani.
Demon Hunters could open up the doors for more creative collaborations between India and Taiwan, with enquiries from top international distributors. It all boils down to timing and research.
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Geopolitical implications
India seeks to forge stronger relations with Taiwan, and collaborative soft power is an important part of this effort.
“I am aware of the geopolitical implications of an India-Taiwan co-production,” Shyu said.
Taiwan has around 5,000 expatriates, and Indian movies are popular in the island country. The two countries have recently signed an MoU that allows Indians to work in Taiwan.
Posting about the film on X, the India Taipei Association wrote, “This is a significant advancement in the collaborative efforts between the film industries of India and Taiwan.”
Manharsinh Laxmanbhai Yadav, Director-General of India Taipei Association—who served in the Prime Minister’s Office until 2023—has been instrumental in forging better ties between the two nations. He has high hopes for Demon Hunters.
“He [Yadav] wants PM Narendra Modi to watch this film,” said Shyu.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)