Indian Film Producer Ravinder Jeet Dariya: “In Greece, I Feel as If I Am in My Homeland”

The Indian film producer praises Greek hospitality and highlights the potential of Greece as a destination for film productions.

We met Indian film producer Ravinder Jeet Dariya in Athens, where he is currently staying with a team of technicians and actors to shoot his new film. With many years of experience in Indian film production, Dariya has developed a close relationship with Greece, which he considers an excellent destination for filming.

Since 2012, when he began undertaking film productions in Greece, he has shot four feature films in the country, as well as more than twenty music videoclips featuring Indian songs. As part of his work, he has filmed at various locations across Greece, including Mykonos, Nea Makri, and the Zagori villages, making use of the diversity of the Greek landscape as a backdrop for his productions.

Ravinder Jeet Dariya is the founder of the production company Big Bat Films. He studied Communications at the University of Delhi and lives and works in Mumbai, India, one of the major centres of the Indian film industry.

Greece as a Destination for Indian Cinema

Speaking about his experience of filming in Greece, the Indian producer expresses his great satisfaction with his cooperation with the Greek people and the support he has received throughout his productions. He particularly appreciates the friendliness and willingness of people to help, as well as the cooperation he has enjoyed with public authorities and local municipalities.

As he points out, the conditions he has encountered in Greece have enabled him to carry out his filming smoothly, without facing any problems. For him, this positive experience is an important reason to return to Greece for new film productions.

He also encourages other Indian filmmakers, whether they come from Mumbai or other parts of India, to choose Greece as a location for shooting their films.

Ravinder Jeet Dariya’s experience highlights the prospects for further developing film cooperation between Greece and India. The country’s natural beauty, diverse landscapes, and positive experience of working with local authorities can help attract more Indian productions to Greece.

Particularly noteworthy is his statement that, after twelve years of professional activity in Greece, he feels here as though he were in his homeland.

Excerpts from the Interview

Below, we present an excerpt from the interview he gave us, freely translated from Hindi.

ELINEPA: Could you repeat what you told us?

RAVINDER JEET DARIYA: Yes, I will say it again.

I have experienced such joy and satisfaction in Greece while filming that I cannot remember experiencing anything comparable anywhere else in Europe. People here are very approachable and willing to help, more so than anywhere else.

You can film wherever you want. The government supports you, the local authorities support you, and nobody obstructs you.

I believe that anyone from Mumbai or any other part of India who wants to shoot a film can come to Greece and carry out their production here.

I have been working in this field for the past twelve years, and to this day I have not encountered any problems. I come straight to Greece and carry out my filming here.

ELINEPA: Thank you very much for your kind words about Greece.

RAVINDER JEET DARIYA: In Greece, one feels as though one is in one’s homeland. Here, I receive every kind of assistance from the people, and I feel as though I am in a part of India. You feel as if you are in India.

Thank you very much. That is how things are here. Everything is good. Goodbye, and thank you very much.