Born and raised in Hong Kong, Indian-origin producer Hrisheek Panchmatia, now based out of Los Angeles, recently wrapped up associate producing the film Evergreens. Shot on live locations in Washington state, the film gave several young artists first-time opportunities in the industry. Panchamtia, who also associate-produced the award-winning film The Runner, has now set his eyes on an American and Indian story, which is his way of paying homage to films he grew up with.
In this exclusive interview with India Currents, he talks about his unconventional journey, his upcoming films, and how his Indian and Hong Kong connections influence his artistic sensibilities.
The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
India Currents: Tell us about feature films you have previously worked on, such as The Runner, Sir Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci, and Napoleon.
Hrisheek Panchmatia: I associate produced The Runner, which is an independent thriller about a recovering drug addict who goes undercover to capture a kingpin, directed by Michelle Danner and starring Edouard Philipponnat and Cameron Douglas. I came on board the project during post-production to help it with its festival run and finding distribution. The Runner was featured at over 20 festivals winning awards such as Best Feature Film at the London Independent Film Festival and Best Director at L’Age d’Or International Arthouse Film Festival. For House of Gucci and Napoleon, I got to be on these projects as I am actor Edouard Philipponnat’s producing partner. For me just being able to watch Sir Ridley Scott work was beyond a dream come true. The scale of the shoot, especially for someone coming from the indie world, was simply spectacular. He is truly one of the greatest directors of all time, and this experience is something that I will forever be grateful for.
IC: You just finished associate producing Evergreens. Tell us more about it.
HP: Evergreens is Jared Briley’s directorial debut, which I associate-produced. It is the story of two unlikely companions who embark on a road trip across the state of Washington. It stars Darby Lee-Stack and Edouard Philipponnat. The film was made with the support of Washington Filmworks. We filmed the movie chronologically and went on the same road trip that the characters go on. So, in a lot of ways, it felt as though we were on this journey with them. We started filming in Spokane and then worked our way to Forks, a distance of almost 600 miles.
We had weather conditions from all four seasons ranging from 46 degrees Fahrenheit to 108 degrees. We filmed on the hottest day ever recorded! The opportunity to do something like this, especially in an industry today where it is much cheaper to film in a studio, is rare. I think we could feel that, and I strongly believe that this will translate on screen when the film is released.
IC: Your upcoming film, Get Lost, is a reimagining of Alice in Wonderland. Tell us more about it.
HP: Get Lost is a reimagining of the Alice-In-Wonderland and Alice-Through-The-Looking-Glass novels, set in modern-day Budapest with the beloved creatures turned into human characters. It is a darker, grounded, and grittier take on the tale we all know and love. The film is directed by Daniela Amavia and stars Ella Travolta, Terrence Howard, and Sasha Luss. Budapest felt like our private playground as we got to film at iconic spots such as Fisherman’s Bastion, Heroes Square, and Tura Castle. It was also during the tail end of COVID, so there were not as many tourists around. It is a place filled with such rich history. This film is incredibly dear to me, as I worked very closely with the director. I learned and grew significantly as a producer from it.
IC: Your professional journey began at HSBC. How did films happen to you?
A black and white portrait of a young man, producer Hrisheek Panchmatia,
HP: I was always interested in films but, naturally, being from Hong Kong, the idea of Hollywood and the movie industry felt so far away. I majored in economics and finance at university and spent some time working at HSBC. Eventually, I decided to take the plunge and enrolled in an acting school in LA. Why acting? I think it’s because that was the closest thing I associated with movies at the time, and so I thought it would be a good fit. I later realized that it was not for me. I became fascinated by how movies are made and decided to study producing. After this, I helped distribute an independent feature film, which led to the film getting a deal. Because of this, I was able to get the Associate Producer credit.
IC: Currently you are working on a project that is looking to cast a Bollywood actress for the lead female role. Tell us more about it.
HP: This is an upcoming film that I am producing, to be directed by Daniela Amavia whom I previously collaborated with on Get Lost. It tells the story of a has-been American music star who travels to teach a semester abroad. After meeting a talented local girl, he reconnects with his heart and finds a new purpose; he discovers an unfamiliar but indescribably beautiful country and experiences the culture, warmth, and kindness of its people. The girl whom he meets will be played by a Bollywood actress. I can’t reveal more about this project for now but we are looking to shoot either in Mumbai or Abu Dhabi.
IC: Who are some of your biggest inspirations? How does your Indian-Hong Kong background and upbringing influence your work?
HP: Growing up I watched a lot of Bollywood and Hollywood films. Some of my biggest inspirations were Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, Emma Thomas, and Marc Platt. Being a third-culture kid influenced my taste in films significantly, as it exposed me to cinema around the world from a very young age. I tend to use what I’ve learned from these movies and apply it to projects that I am producing. I think it is a huge reason why I really want to shoot a project in Mumbai – to have that full circle moment and be able to pay homage to all of my favorite films growing up.
(The article is published under a mutual content partnership arrangement between The Free Press Journal and India Currents).
