A cross-cultural love story is getting a fresh British spin. The Hong Kong romantic comedy My Indian Boyfriend is officially being remade for U.K. audiences, with the new version set in Leicester — a city known for its vibrant mix of cultures and communities.
The remake brings the story full circle, quite literally, by returning it to the city where the original film once made a meaningful impression.
From Hong Kong to the East Midlands
The original My Indian Boyfriend opened the inaugural Electric Shadows Chinese Film Festival in Leicester, making the city a symbolic choice for the remake. This new version will carry the working subtitle Golden Mile, a nod to Belgrave Road — Leicester’s iconic stretch famed for South Asian jewellery shops and cultural landmarks.
The project will be executive produced by Sri Kishore, who also directed the Hong Kong original, alongside U.K.-based Hong Kong creative Hiu Man Chan. Leicester filmmaker Vijay Chauhan will step behind the camera for his feature directorial debut.
A Story About Love, Identity, and Belonging
Originally marketed as Hong Kong’s first mainstream romantic drama led by a South Asian male protagonist, My Indian Boyfriend stood out for its portrayal of interracial love. The film blended romance and youth culture with deeper themes of migration, identity, and family expectations, and was shot in Cantonese and Hindi.
The U.K. adaptation will rework those ideas through a British lens, using Leicester’s ethnically diverse population as a backdrop to explore cultural intersections, tensions, and shared spaces.
Creators on Why Leicester Matters
Sri Kishore described the remake as an opportunity to highlight a cross-cultural narrative that resonates strongly in the U.K., saying the film aims to celebrate diversity while fostering unity between Indian and Chinese traditions.
Director Vijay Chauhan echoed that sentiment, calling Leicester an underrepresented city in cinema. For him, the project is both personal and professional — a chance to showcase the city’s stories while launching his filmmaking career.
Hiu Man Chan, who teaches creative industries at De Montfort University and runs NGO U.K.-China Film Collab, framed the film as more than a remake.
“This isn’t just an adaptation,” Chan said. “It’s a statement about the East Midlands — its creativity, ambition, and international connections.”
Building Local Talent Along the Way
Beyond the screen, the production plans to collaborate with local creatives, universities, and community partners, creating opportunities for early-career filmmakers and strengthening Leicester’s presence in the film industry.
Chan, who has previously worked on distributing Hong Kong hits and produced international projects, sees Golden Mile as a bridge between contemporary Hong Kong cinema and British independent film.
Final Words
With My Indian Boyfriend finding new life in Leicester, the U.K. remake promises more than just a familiar rom-com formula. Rooted in real communities and lived experiences, Golden Mile looks set to explore modern love through a genuinely global — and very local — perspective.
