Filming in India - No Drama.
India's stories are extraordinary. Getting them on camera doesn't have to be a fight. Backpack Films' expert fixers, hand-picked crews and 25 years of insider knowledge turn India's beautiful complexity into production magic — so you land confident, not anxious.
Let us handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on storytelling.
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You didn't get into filmmaking to become a permits or logistics expert. From Mumbai's studios to the Himalayan foothills, we handle the entire operational maze — so your team spends its energy on the one thing that actually matters: making the film.
Twenty-five years ago, this was one person, a phone, and a lot of self-taught hustle. Today, AmitVachharajani and a trusted crew of fixers and location producers are the first call for international production companies and global brands filming anywhere in India. What hasn't changed: every job still gets Amit's personal attention, and every client gets the same promise — reliable, responsive, and no drama.
Documentary filmmaking in India means access to extraordinary stories in extraordinary places. From bustling metropolitan markets to remote mountain villages, we've helped capture amazing footage with global celebrities, adventure specialists, political leaders, film stars and culinary artists—each finding their unique narrative within India's diverse cultural landscape.
India's massive, tech-savvy population makes it one of the world's most dynamic consumer markets. Global corporations, tech giants, FMCG brands, financial institutions, fashion brands and social media platforms have established significant operations here—and they need compelling corporate content to connect with this diverse, influential audience.
I have worked with Amit for well over a decade back when we made Idiot Abroad and more recently on an extremely ambitious travel project. He is and always will be my first port of call in India, whether it be, getting the visas, gaining difficult access or managing complex shoots, Backpack Films have it covered.
Amit and his amazing team are absolutely essential if you are planning to film in India. From talking us through and managing the visa and permit process, to being firefighters on the ground, we felt constantly looked after. Amit is cool as a cucumber and incredible at solving any problems once on location, no matter how problematic. His knowledge and contact book is vast and Amit and his crew truly feel like part of the production team every step of the way. Backpack Films made navigating filming in a difficult location as smooth as can be and I wouldn't think twice before giving Amit a call should I be filming out in India again.
I'd previously worked with Amit on a Gordon Ramsay series years ago, so I knew we were in safe hands. We were a fairly big team, often splitting across multiple locations, and taking high profile talent overseas always presents it's own challenges. Thankfully Amit and his fellow fixers worked hard to ensure that we were well looked after, and solved a number of issues which would have been near impossible to resolve without them. I would definitely use them again.
Casual has partnered with Backpack Films on more than 10 shoots across India over the past few years, with several different producers from our team working with them. Their crew is talented, hardworking, and dependable on the ground. Whether it’s corporate filming in the financial sector or more complex productions involving actors and multiple locations, they’ve shown flexibility and a solid commitment to delivering what’s needed often under challenging circumstances.
Working with Backpack Films was seamless from start to finish. Their local expertise and network proved absolutely essential to the success of our show. That kind of on-the-ground knowledge is impossible to replicate, and it made all the difference in getting us where we needed to be.
Amit and his team at Backpack Films are diligent, precise and practical. They tell you what can be done, and find alternative solutions where your requests are difficult to achieve. They care about your shoot, and making it the best it can be.
We've been working with Amit and his crew for a few years now and have always had a wonderful experience. As a New-York based production company, it's incredibly important for us to have trustworthy crews in areas like Mumbai where our clients have international offices. Amit and his team always deliver high-quality footage, exceptional creativity, and a very professional and easy experience from start to finish. I know that I can trust Amit to communicate directly with our C-suite clients and address them professionally and punctually. He has great attention to detail and really relieves our team of the usual stresses that come with international shoot coordination. Thank you again for all of your hard work!
Working with Amit and Backpack Films was a pleasure and the guidance and support given from them was top notch. The result of what we produced was made all the better by having Backpack Films on our side. Appreciate them very much and wouldn’t question using them again.
After working with Amit and the crew at Backpack Films immediately told several of my other producer friends here in the states that I had a great partner for them in India. Working with this crew was excellent. They are super professional, easy to trust and you are going to want to grab drinks with them after. They are a collection of really talented and good hearted humans. 10/10 would work with them again when the opportunity presents itself.
Amit and Backpack Films were frankly indispensable on our shoot with Paul O Grady in India. From day one we knew we were in safe hands. Amit handled all of our production needs professionally, swiftly, and most importantly, with a smile. He is the go-to guy for British production companies needing a facilitator in India, simply excellent!
We love working with Backpack Films as they provide an excellent team who shoot beautifully, have great country knowledge and are a joy to work with.
Working with Amit and Backpack films was an absolute pleasure. They insured our team was always up to speed and ready to go for all of our shoot requirements. From large scale shoots to small scale ones Amit and his team are nothing but professional and a delight to work with.
Amit at Backpack Films is simply our GO TO person, and I would strongly recommend him to anyone that plans to film in India. Our production has used him and his great supporting team on three occasions, shooting and scouting in multiple Indian cities and locations. He has an incredible knowledge of how things work in India, and his extensive experience & connections gave us invaluable production support across every area in the production process, from applying for our Visa’s, compliance, locations, finding people, sourcing local production assistance, helping with medical care, difficult shooting conditions and right through to the final edit. Throughout, Backpack films were a very big asset to our team Amit’s brilliant humour, professionalism and support carried us through many, many challenging shoots, often in hostile & tricky locations. His bespoke service based on the team’s magical needs was legendary. I literally expected miracles and I got them.
We've worked with Amit on a couple of tricky and unusual projects, at either ends of India. Each time, he's set us up with exactly what we need and has been perfectly reliable and responsive throughout. I don't think I'd risk filming in India without his support and his network!
For small crews, we recommend Toyota Innova vehicles. Larger crews are best accommodated in Tempo Traveller or Urbania vans. In cities with challenging parking and navigation conditions, Toyota Innovas are preferred for their maneuverability.
Our travel coordination team arranges comprehensive transport and accommodation services nationwide. All vehicles are provided with experienced, safety-certified drivers. Hotel options are curated based on your budget parameters and specific requirements.
November through March offers the most favorable weather conditions across most regions, with cooler temperatures ideal for outdoor filming. April onwards marks the onset of summer with significantly higher temperatures. The monsoon season (June-August) brings heavy to intermittent rainfall throughout the country. Indoor filming schedules are unaffected by seasonal weather patterns.
Yes. We handle full remote productions using local crew and equipment anywhere in India, with live shoot monitoring so you can watch (or even conduct an interview) from wherever you're based. Footage gets delivered fast, either as a digital upload or by courier.
A fixer is your on-the-ground producer — the person who turns ‘we want to film an interview near the Ganges at sunrise’ into a permitted, crewed, insured reality. For any international shoot in India, a good fixer is the difference between a smooth week and a very long stressful one.
