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Why Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Riteish Deshmukh & Fardeen Khan love Sydney and more…

Mumbai, August 16, 2007: The stars of Heyy Babyy may have returned from shooting the latest production from the stable of Sajid Nadiawala in Sydney, but they just can’t stop talking about the gorgeous destination. The darlings of the big screen Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Riteish Deshmukh & Fardeen Khan spent 5 1/2 weeks in Sydney, Australia’s biggest and most cosmopolitan city, and are completely in love with it. They have confessed to having had a marvelous time in Sydney – a city surrounded by national parks and a coastline of sparkling beaches combined with a busy nightlife bustling with cool bars and clubs.

Siew Hoon Tan, Regional Director, South Asia from Tourism New South Wales said, “Working with Sajid Nadiawala and his production team has provided a range of economic benefits to the state of New South Wales across film, tourism, education and business. The Heyy Babyy film will showcase the many attractive lifestyle attributes on offer in Sydney and we are confident the film will attract many more Indian tourists to travel to Sydney and experience the excitement of the city firsthand.”

“The New South Wales Government wishes Sajid Nadiawala every success with the release of Heyy Babyy and would welcome the opportunity to work with Sajid and his production team to work in Sydney again,” continued Siew Hoon Tan.

Home to the World Heritage-listed Sydney Opera House, Sydney has now become a hot destination for leading Indian filmmakers to shoot their Bollywood extravaganzas. Sajid Nadiadwala and his team were charmed by this welcoming and friendly city with a relaxed outdoor lifestyle. The Producer said, “Since the movie is based in Sydney, we shot most of the film on location there. The beautiful Sydney Opera House and Darling Harbour were just two of a range of amazing locations where we shot. Circular Quay, The Rocks, and the nightclubs and casinos are also a focal point for the film. Tourism New South Wales and the NSW Government have been most supportive of this project and were very generous in their support.”  

The entertainment industry’s funny man and Director Sajid Khan said, “Sydney was the perfect backdrop for Heyy Babyy. Since my film is a light hearted romantic drama about human relationships and revolves around the lives of three bachelors living it up, Sydney was the perfect location for the movie. We shot the movie all across Sydney – the beaches with their clear sands and blue water, Darling Harbour and other exciting sites.”

Each of the stars had something to say about Sydney. Action king Akshay Kumar stated, “I had an awesome time shooting for Heyy Babyy, most of which was shot in Sydney. The beaches and the views are quite breathtaking. I am an avid sports enthusiast and I made the most of this opportunity to surf and skydive and get more adventurous with rock climbing, which made my stay in Sydney all the more exciting.” 

While Vidya Balan gushed, “Sydney was simply an amazing experience. We shot all over Sydney including the famous Sydney Opera House – the place just takes your breath away – and the gorgeous beaches. The water is so blue and looks very magnificent. There are a host of boutiques and department stores at the Pitt Street Mall that are every woman’s dream come true. I enjoyed every bit of my stay in Sydney during the shoot of this movie as there was never a dull moment.”

Riteish Deshmukh said, “I have had so much fun on the sets of this movie. Most of the film was shot outdoors on the beaches, streets and in the markets of Sydney.  It was indeed an amazing experience for me the entire time I was there.”

Fardeen Khan said, “Akshay, Riteish and me and the baby of course had a brilliant time in Sydney. We shot at the iconic Sydney Opera House, the beaches and markets and some of Sydney’s coolest nightclubs. Since I play a gambler in the movie, we also went to the Star City Casino. Sydney has a very chilled out, casual but sophisticated and very exciting nightlife. It was one big party shooting the film.”

Heyy Babyy was shot at a number of locations around Sydney, including:

The Rocks and Circular Quay, a historic neighborhood which has been transformed in modern times comprises art galleries, boutiques, cafes, a weekend market, great restaurants and the best views of the city’s star attractions – the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Just minutes walking distance from the city centre, Darling Harbour boasts attractions such as Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wildlife World, the Powerhouse Museum, cool bars, restaurants and Star City Casino. Sydney is known for its stylish shopping, outdoor cafes and fine restaurants, elegant gardens and parks. It also has many fine heritage buildings, museums, galleries and tourist attractions all within easy access from the city centre.

Sydney Harbour is alive with ferries, yachts, launches, ocean liners and kayaks jostling for a piece of the world’s best harbour. There are many different ways to experience Sydney Harbour including a range of cruises, the regular ferry and jet cat service and private yacht charters as well as helicopter flights or a seaplane journey. Kayaks are available for hire allowing access to some of Sydney’s hidden waterways and beaches. More than 10 scenic walks are easily accessed from points around the harbour offering stunning views and access to nature. Or sit back and dine at one of the many harbourside restaurants and sample the modern Australian cuisine along with a glass of Australian wine.