SYDNEY SHINES ON BIG SCREEN IN NEW FILM STARRING BRETT LEE

Cricket superstar and actor Brett Lee is showcasing Sydney and its attractions to Australian and Indian travellers with the release of a new film, unINDIAN, a romantic comedy filmed exclusively in Sydney.

The film, opening in cinemas next week, explores the complexities of a relationship between Aussie bloke Will, played by Lee, and beautiful Indian divorcee and single mother Meera, played by Indian actress Tannishtha Chatterjee. Their romance unfolds at locations across Sydney including the iconic Harbour, Coogee, Maroubra, the University of New South Wales, the Entertainment Quarter and the city’s Indian food capital, Harris Park.

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said unINDIAN was filmed with support from the NSW Government through Destination NSW.

“Filmed exclusively in Sydney, unINDIAN will showcase Sydney’s stunning harbour, beaches and attractions to audiences across the globe, particularly in India, a key visitor market for NSW. The film also features Destination NSW’s Indian tourism campaign, Jhappi Time, in a unique collaboration that we hope will bring even more visitors to NSW,” Mr Ayres said.

Brett Lee said unINDIAN is both a love letter to Sydney, and a love story in itself.

“We filmed unINDIAN exclusively in Sydney in 23 locations, including at my character Will’s warehouse apartment in St Peters, netball courts in Pennant Hills and the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park. I really enjoyed filming at the University of New South Wales and the Cochlear headquarters, and of course we did some great shoots on Sydney Harbour. I honestly never tire of seeing the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and foreshore, particularly on a beautiful sunny, typically Sydney day.”

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase, said the collaboration with Bollywood Director Anupam Sharma made sense – with Sydney not only the perfect film set, but setting for a romantic holiday.

“In the year ending June 2015 NSW welcomed 103,000 visitors who stayed an average of 38.4 nights and spent $255 million with 50% of visitors staying in NSW for a holiday for a week or more. The showcase of Sydney in unINDIAN will reach more Indian visitors who will see how beautiful the city is and what a great state NSW is to have a holiday. It builds on our current Jhappi Time – the first campaign from an Australian tourism organisation specifically aimed at Indians visiting friends and family.”