PRESS RELEASE
SBS is proud to announce that cameras are now rolling on FOUR YEARS LATER – SBS’ first foray into an Original scripted series to be filmed across two countries, told in dual languages. A romance that delves into the complex ways love can change over time and distance, the new eight-part series for SBS shoots in Mumbai and Jaipur, before moving to Sydney in late February.
FOUR YEARS LATER (previously, Four Years) explores the love story of Sridevi and Yash, who have to endure four years apart right after their wedding when Yash lands a medical traineeship in Australia.
The series follows Yash and Sridevi’s turbulent time apart and reconnection – two timelines, two worlds, told through dual perspectives and explores themes of the changing nature of love, intimacy and belonging as you change within yourself and asks what it takes to find your way back to someone you have deeply loved after so long apart.
Using both Hindi and English languages, the ground-breaking Australian series features two highly accomplished Indian actors in the lead roles – Akshay Ajit Singh (24: India) playing Yash and award-winning actress Shahana Goswami (Bombay Begums, A Suitable Boy) as Sridevi.
SBS Head of Scripted, Julie Eckersley said: “Four Years Later is a true romance. It explores modern intimacy and relationships in the context of two countries and two deeply flawed but lovable characters. It continues our strategy at SBS Scripted to make fresh Australian content with global audience appeal.”
Created by Mithila Gupta (Five Bedrooms, Bump) and featuring a writing team all with South Asian heritage: Mithila, Nicole Reddy and S. Shakthidharan, the series is being directed by Mohini Herse (the SBS Digital Original Appetite) and Fadia Abboud (Year Of, Five Bedrooms).
Mithila Gupta, creator, writer and executive producer, said: “It has been a dream come true to bring Australian and Indian crews together on this series and tell such a culturally specific story through the universal lens of love, familial expectations, and most of all: belonging. I hope each and every viewer sees reflections of themselves in Sridevi and Yash.”
Produced by Easy Tiger’s Ian Collie and Rob Gibson (Colin From Accounts, The Twelve), Stephen Corvini (Hungry Ghosts, Safe Harbour) and with the support of Indian production company Suitable Pictures. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS and financed with support from Screen NSW through the Made in NSW Fund. International Sales are being handled by ITV Studios.
Screen Australia’s Director of Content, Grainne Brunsdon said, “Four Years Later has all the elements to captivate Australian audiences. It is fantastic to see this talented creative team, wonderful cast and crew come together to tell a story that captures life, love and reconnection across two continents.
Julie Meldal-Johnsen, EVP Global Content, Global Partnerships, ITV Studios, said “IT Studios is delighted to partner with our friends at Easy Tiger and SBS on this powerful, evocative romantic drama, rich with cultural diversity and nuance. We are sure that international buyers will, like Yash and Sridevi, fall head over heels for this beautiful series of heart and passion, love and life, time and distance.
