If the clicks on major video-streaming sites in China are the basis, the trailer of the forthcoming Lunar New Year movie of Chinese actor Jackie Chan, “Kung Fu Yoga” would likely be another blockbuster.
In the preview, Jackie Chan, who portrays an archaeologist in search of a lost Indian treasure with the help of an old map, drives around with a lion on the vehicle’s backseat. The beast is real, not a computer-generated image. The lion is actually owned by the royal family of Dubai, according to China Daily.
Save an Ancient Culture
In their search, Jackie Chan’s team is ambushed by mercenaries and left for dead. He uses his wide knowledge of history and kung fu to beat the mercenaries to the treasure and save an ancient culture, according to TVWeb.
Besides his huge fan base in China, “Kung Fu Yoga” is the result of a Sino-Indian co-production agreement between Beijing and Delhi which gives the movie as wider range of audience. The movie would also premiere at the start of the Spring Festival when Chinese visit the families and watch movies.
Joint India-China Productions
With the deal, three films would be jointed produced by India and China after the Indian Embassy in Beijing and the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television signed the agreement. Besides “Kung Fu Yoga, the two other films that would be the result of the agreement is a biographical feature on Xuan Zang and “Buddies in India.”
The feature is based on the pilgrimage to India of a 7th-century monk. “Buddies in India” would serve as the directorial debut of Wang Baoqiang, a comedian. It would also premiere during the Spring Festival, while Xuan Zang was released in April.
Jackie Chan has a following too in India because of his 1995 Hollywood hits “Rumble in the Bronx” and the 1998 “Rush Hour.” He also shot the movie “The Myth”” in India in 2005. Disha Patani, an Indian actress who is in the cast of “Kung Fu Yoga” said working with Jackie Chan is a dream come true for her.