Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entertainment industry faced a major setback. With two back-to-back lockdowns, big-budget films are put on hold. However, taking a much-needed step to revive the industry and theatres, the makers of Akshay Kumar's BellBottom took the decision to go for a theatrical release on August 19. The first biggest Bollywood film to release in theatres after the deadly second wave of COVID-19, the spy thriller also stars  Vaani Kapoor, Lara Dutta, Huma Qureshi and Adil Hussain among others. Though theatres in Maharashtra are shut, BellBottom will be releasing in states where cinema halls are operational. 

Ahead of BellBottom's much-awaited theatrical release, PeepingMoon.com got in touch with the film's director, Ranjit M Tewari. Talking to us, Ranjit opened up about bringing a bunch of talented actors together for the spy-thriller based on a true event. The director further shed light on the research that went behind making the film. Calling Akshay an 'excellent leader', Ranjit said the Bollywood superstar's sense of cinema is impeccable. 

Excerpts from the interview:

Putting together a multi-starrer must have been a challenge, isn’t it?

I would like to say everything fell in place and wasn't a challenge at all. Akshay (Kumar) sir managed to bring in most of the cast like Huma Qureshi and Lara Dutta. I wouldn't say it was entirely my efforts. 

When did you decide to make BellBottom? 

At the beginning of 2019, Aseem Arora (screenwriter of BellBottom) came up with the idea and we discussed it. That’s when I was sure that we have to tell this story on the big screen. 

BellBottom is based on a true event. The execution must have required a lot of research, right?

Yes. We did a lot of research, reading and went through articles. In order to get the characters right, how the world will look and execute a film based in the '80s, we had to be careful about every detail. With the help of great technicians, we achieved it. Every team member was focused on BellBottom because that was the only film they had with them. There were no new projects coming up due to the pandemic. Their concentration was on BellBottom.        

Akshay Kumar, being one of Bollywood’s biggest superstars, knows the business well. Did he give any suggestions to enhance the script?

Akshay Kumar sir attended the virtual script reading sessions too. He has been in the industry for such a long time and is an experienced person. He has got a great sense of cinema and his contribution to BellBottom was well-thought. He is very democratic in his approach and had asked us to not incorporate his suggestions if they didn't work in the film's favour. Every character is living the story so it is good if actors come up with suggestions. It always helps the film. Akshay sir is an excellent leader.  

Lara Dutta’s look as Indira Gandhi garnered much appreciation. How was it directing her? Did you visualise her look before kickstarting the film?

It was a pleasure directing Lara. Before we went for the shoot of BellBottom, we were not focusing on making her look in a certain way. Everything fell in place during the process of transformation. I sat down with the costume designers and prosthetics expert Vikram Gaikwad for Lara's look and we collectively decided to move ahead with this look. 

In India, whenever an actor plays a political leader, they are bound to face criticism. Are you prepared to face criticism for Lara's character?

As you are aware that the Censor Board has passed BellBottom with zero cuts. We have taken the responsibility of presenting a character in the correct way. I don’t think there will be any sort of criticism. It is shown in a very good space. If there was some misrepresentation or irresponsibility on our part, the Censor Board would have looked into it.   

BellBottom was the first film to go on floors after the first lockdown and now it’s the first theatrical release after the second lockdown. Can we call this one of the biggest risks of your career?

When we set out to make BellBottom in the middle of the pandemic, many said, "You guys are mad to take this risk." But we went ahead and did it. We took that risk. But I think you have to look at the positive side rather than thinking about all the negative things that can happen to you. Now, people are vaccinated, they are returning to normalcy and life has to move on. The entertainment sector is shut for almost 1 and a half years. Livelihood and jobs are in question. If Government has opened that space, people are comfortable eating in restaurants by taking necessary precautions then why not release the film?     

Theatres in Maharashtra are yet to reopen. Are you worried that this will affect the box office collection of the film?

Yes, it will affect the box office collection but you have to also respect the government’s decision of not reopening the theatres as they view the situation in a different light. Hopefully, in a week’s time, after the film releases, the theatres in Maharashtra will reopen. We’ll wait for the next announcement and will release it in Maharashtra too. Fingers crossed.   

BellBottom is releasing 4 years after your last directorial Lucknow Central. Were you waiting to find the right story? 

Lucknow Central released in 2017 and I started working on BellBottom in 2019. I was looking for a story that I was comfortable doing. It took some time to find the right story. I had a few ideas in my mind but they didn't materialise.