Tourism Victoria will use a new Bollywood film to showcase the state to an audience of millions in India, with key scenes to be shot in Melbourne, Premier Ted Baillieu says.
The film, Run Milkha Run (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag) tells the story of Indian sporting hero Milkha Singh, known as the Flying Sikh, who launched his international running career at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games and went on to win 77 of 80 international races.
The film, featuring Indian stars Farhaan Akhtar and Sonam Kapoor, will generate more than $1 million in local economic activity when it is shot in Melbourne for two to three weeks, Mr Baillieu said.
He said Film Victoria would continue working with the film's producers to support production while Tourism Victoria would use the film to promote the state.
"India is one of the busiest film production destinations in the world, and its burgeoning film industry offers vast opportunities for Victorian co-production projects, building on our strengths in the creative arts," Mr Baillieu said in a statement on Thursday.
"As with other Indian films shot in Melbourne ... Bhaag Milkha Bhaag will raise our profile in India and showcase Victoria as a great tourism destination.
"Tourism Victoria will leverage the release of the movie through a marketing campaign in India featuring the key locations from the film."
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