Dateline Mumbai / Sydney: Twenty-five years ago, one of the first Indian born film graduate from Sydney finished a thesis on Indian cinema and founded films & casting TEMPLE with the motto of “Worshipping Cinema” turning cultural curiosity into a niche industry linking two of the world’s most dynamic screen cultures. TEMPLE has since grown into a pioneering force that reshaped how Australia and India see, shoot, and celebrate each other on screen.
From Dil Chahta Hai and Heyy Babyy to Love Story 2050, TEMPLE, Australia’s first India-specialist film production and consultancy company, celebrates 25 years of a legacy built across over 400 projects and a bridge that changed how India and Australia make movies together.
Founded in 2000 by Anupam Sharma a filmmaker and film entrepreneur once named Czar of Bollywood in Australia as one of the 50 most powerful Australian film professionals, TEMPLE shot to fame with its first few projects for Mr. Feroz Khan, Mr. Rakesh Roshan, Mr Yash Johar, Mr. Aditiya Chopra / Mr. Yash Chopra and then came Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh with Dil Chahta Hai. Over the years, TEMPLE’s high end professional team has not only powered some of Indian cinema’s iconic shoots in Australia, but also provided high end consultancy and crew in India. From animatronics support for Koi Mil Gaya to stunt driving for Dhoom, fire sequences for Om Shanti Om, and stunts for Lakshya. When Bollywood came calling, Australia opened its arms with TEMPLE leading the charge.
The company also made history by conceptualising the Australia–India Film Fund, announced by the then Prime Minister of Australia in India, producing the cross-cultural hit unINDIAN starring Brett Lee and Tannishtha Chatterjee, which became the first Australian film ever featured on The Kapil Sharma Show. beaming Australian storytelling into millions of Indian homes.
TEMPLE has been a go to for all major professional projects for India’s massive ad industry. From commercials with Percept, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Billoo Sandhu and Kunal Kapoor to campaigns for Tourism Australia and Destination have been among the biggest ever filmed in Australia.
These collaborations soon became a two way street. The company became the first Australian production house to be awarded a project by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to promote Australian films and talent in India, apart from being part of the first India centric Australian reality show Bollywood Star and shooting iconic Australian TV in India. A recognition of TEMPLE’s unmatched understanding of both markets
As it celebrates its silver jubilee, TEMPLE is ramping up a slate of India centric Australian feature films with development support by Screen Australia, Screen Queensland, and Screen NSW among others. An India-Australia co-production treaty in place, a growing Indian diaspora, and the rising success of Bollywood films in Australia, the timing couldn’t be better.
Adding to the celebrations, TEMPLE’s award-winning documentary Brand Bollywood Downunder exploring the India-Australia film connection featuring who’s who of Bollywood icons has just premiered on Netflix ANZ, poetically echoing the company’s 25-year journey.
“It’s cinema karma,” smiles Sharma. “A film about India-Australia film links goes on Netflix ANZ right as we turn 25.
Under his leadership, TEMPLE has launched the National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) the country’s first national Indian film festival, showcasing the range and richness of Indian cinema to Australian audiences. The festival opened with overwhelming response and support from Australian and Indian government and private agencies, already expanding to regional Australia.
The company’s footprint is deeply embedded in the creative DNA of both countries. Says Anupam Sharma. “These 25 years are a celebration of Australia’s diversity, of India’s creative reach, and of the enduring power of cinema to connect cultures. A perfect arranged marriage between the most prolific and most professional film industries.”
