A Mumbai-based producer has shot a film exploring the controversial subject of honour killings in the Asian community in Birmingham.

The film 'Land, Gold, Women' follows the fictional story of 17-year-old Saira Khan, who has an English boyfriend, and does not want to marry her father's choice.

He is distraught over his daughter's refusal to marry an approved suitor and takes matters into his own hands, says a report in the Sunday Mercury.

The movie stars two British soap stars - Chris Villiers and child actor Ali Zahoor. Newcomer Neelam Parmer as the character of Saira joins them.

Mumbai-based Avantika Hari and Vivek Aggarwal are the producers of the film.

The British government has recently enacted a legislation to prevent the scourge.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has set up a separate unit to coordinate action and rescue British citizens lured or taken forcibly to the Indian sub-continent for marriage against their will.

Hari, 28 years old, decided to make a film about honour killings after reading about crimes that had been committed abroad.

"It seemed that only people of Asian background were responsible for this type of crime, but as I delved into it, I discovered that it was a global problem. It's not just Hindus, Sikhs or Muslims," he says.

"It happens in Italy, Africa, South America and the Middle East, and we highlight this in the film. I decided to base the film around an Indian family because I understand the culture," he concludes.