HCM CITY — Vietnamese-Indian fight master, actor and director Peter Hein is working with Vietnamese staff on the new boxing film Sám Hối (Penitent), a joint Vietnamese-Indian production.

Hein and his actors, Bình Minh and Anh Thư, spent a year working together on the film’s script.  

The film features the life of an ex- boxer, played by Minh, who agrees to dangerous boxing fights to earn money to support his wife, played by Thư, and his daughter.  

The film includes visual and sound effects by Indian experts.  

Since the group began the filming in HCM City two months ago, Sám Hối and its actors have received a warm response from many fans.  

In a recent interview with local media, Minh said he had worked hard to “prove himself in his first project with Indian colleagues”. 

“I spent several months preparing my role,” he said. “I turned down several projects to play in Sám Hối. I’m very interested in working with Peter, who has introduced a taste of Bollywood film to his Vietnamese staff.”

“I believe in our film’s success because the taste of Vietnamese and Indian audiences is the same. We all love watching films about compassion, love and family,” said Minh, adding that Indian productions that recently aired on Việt Nam Television (VTV) and Hồ Chí Minh Television (HTV) were warmly received.   

Born in India, Hein has a passion for Việt Nam, his mother’s homeland.

“I have loved learning Vietnamese since I was a boy. I wanted to make a film to serve both Vietnamese and Indian fans,” said Hein, who has more than 20 years of film experience.

He has performed in 160 films and TV series in India. He worked as an action choreographer and stunt director in Bollywood blockbusters such as Sivaji, Magadheera , 7Aum Arivu and Kochadaiyaan.

He received the prize Best Fight Master for his film Baahubaki: The Beginning at the  South India International Movie Awards (SIIMA) 2016 in Singapore last year.  

Sám Hối will be filmed in both Việt Nam and India. Its post-production will be completed in India later this year.

According to the film’s producer Raja Ramani, the film will be screened in Việt Nam, India and China next year. — VNS