Film director Girish Makwana, who was born in India, says he has always known his place in society.
"My family comes the from Weaver family, the Weaver Caste, and unfortunately they call us outcasts, untouchable," says Mr Makwana, who wrote and directed The Colour of Darkness, a film that explores how discrimination transcends borders.
Caste discrimination has been making headlines recently, as members of India's "low-caste" community conduct rallies against the banned but deep-rooted system that brands them as outsiders.
"There are thousands and thousands of people in India every day suffering because they were born in that particular Caste," Mr Makwana says.
"It's in our DNA ... you're born [in] this thing, you die that way," he said.
Treatment of Indian people in Australia
Mr Makwana was studying in Melbourne during a spate of brutal attacks on Indian international students between 2009 and 2010.
It was these attacks drove him to write a film drawing parallels between Casteism in India and the treatment of Indian students in Australia.
Australian actress Vidya Makan played the role of Maria in the film.
Maria is an Australian-born journalist reporting on the 2010 student attacks.
She's taken on a journey through India's dark social history via the laneways of Melbourne.
Ms Makan, who was born in Australia to Indian parents, says playing the role of Maria made her question her own identity.
"As Maria goes through the film and learns about her roots, and her culture, and the pros and cons and all that stuff, it was actually a big journey for me,” she said.
Ms Makan says she witnessed discrimination towards low-income Indian International students while filming in Australia.
"More than just violence, I think it's just lifestyle and the way that they're treated, because they can be treated like that."
The Colour of Darkness is set to premier at the Indian Film Festival that opens in Melbourne on August 11.
Mr Makwana hopes to take the film overseas, with plans to screen throughout Australia, India and around the world.
