At
the
trailer
launch
of
Bell
Bottom
on
Tuesday,
the
media
persons
who
were
invited
to
cover
the
event
were
at
a
loss
trying
to
figure
out
the
character
played
by
Lara
Dutta
in
the
1980s
set
spy
thriller,
headlined
by
Akshay
Kumar.
The
film's
trailer,
which
opens
with
a
disclaimer,
begins
with
an
Indian
airplane
being
hijacked
with
all
of
its
passengers
being
taken
hostage
in
1984.
In
the
next
scene,
the
then
Prime
Minister
Indira
Gandhi
is
seen
consulting
with
her
advisors
for
a
possible
way
to
tackle
the
crisis.
She
is
then
referred
to
Kumar's
character,
a
RAW
operative,
code
named
Bell
Bottom.
The
rest
of
the
trailer
focuses
on
the
covert
operation
pulled
off
by
his
character.
During
the
press
conference
post
the
trailer
launch,
Dutta
was
asked
about
the
character
she
portrays
in
the
film.
The
actor
initially
asked
members
of
the
media
to
guess
the
character.
"If
anyone
is
able
to
guess,
then
I
will
take
all
their
family
members
free
to
the
theatres," she
promised.
After
much
prodding,
even
by
Kumar,
Dutta
said,
"So
you
did
see
me
in
the
trailer.
I'm
playing
Mrs
Indira
Gandhi.
That's
me."
The
former
Miss
Universe
revealed
that
she
received
a
call
from
the
makers
about
playing
the
former
PM
in
the
movie.
"All
it
took
was
a
call
and
they
said
that
Lara
this
film
is
being
made
and
we
are
casting
for
Indira
Gandhi's
role.
It
was
before
I
heard
the
script...
"But
yes,
of
course,
there
is
a
great
responsibility
when
you're
portraying
somebody
who
is
an
iconic
figure
like
her,"
she
said.
It
was
a
challenge
to
get
the
body
language
of
the
character
right,
added
Dutta.
"As
you
all
know
that
the
film
deals
with
a
hijack
situation
that
happened
during
her
tenure.
Given
the
dramatic
events
that
were
unfolding,
she
was
somebody
who
was
very
centered
and
not
prone
to
any
dramatics.
So
it
was
important
to
portray
her
in
that
form.
"I
had
a
great
time.
There
was
a
lot
of
homework
and
research
that
went
behind
it.
But
it
was
an
opportunity
of
a
lifetime
that
I'm
thankful
for,"
she
added.
Bell
Bottom
also
stars
Vaani
Kapoor
and
Huma
Qureshi
in
key
roles.
Kapoor,
who
portrays
the
wife
of
Kumar's
character,
said
she
was
thrilled
to
get
to
shoot
a
movie
during
the
pandemic.
"My
heart
is
full
of
gratitude.
During
the
pandemic
where
so
many
people,
including
us,
were
not
able
to
get
out
of
our
homes,
I
was
lucky
that
I
got
to
work.
I'm
grateful
that
he
worked
with
me,"
she
said.
At
the
trailer
launch
that
followed
appropriate
social
distancing
behaviour,
Kumar
urged
fans
to
take
utmost
precautions
to
safeguard
themselves.
"It's
been
two
years
since
I
watched
anything
on
the
big
screen.
We
have
just
been
watching
things
on
the
TV.
There
is
a
different
joy
to
eating
food
at
a
restaurant.
How
long
will
you
keep
getting
home
delivery?"
he
asked,
referring
to
the
films
that
sought
a
digital
release
in
the
wake
of
the
theatre
shutdown
during
the
pandemic.
It
is
now
time
for
people
to
come
to
the
theatres,
the
actor
said.
"But
at
the
same
time,
take
precautions
and
safeguard
yourself.
Follow
the
guidelines
mandated
by
the
government,
so
that
this
can
continue
and
I
hope
that
theatres
don't
close
again,"
Kumar
added.
Directed
by
Ranjit
M
Tewari,
Bell
Bottom
is
produced
by
Vashu
Bhagnani,
Jackky
Bhagnani,
Deepshikha
Deshmukh,
Monisha
Advani,
Madhu
Bhojwani
and
Nikkhil
Advani.
The
movie
will
be
released
in
theatres
on
August
19.