The actor is currently shooting with Mouni Roy for Reema Kagti’s sports-drama in Bradford
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 13, 2017)

Akshay Kumar, who recently took off to Bradford to kick off Reema Kagti’s sportsdrama, Gold, which is based on India’s first Olympic Gold in hockey as a free country at 1948 London Olympics, has been learning Bengali from a language coach on the UK set of the film. “A dialect tutor and a special trainer to explain traditional Bengali mannerisms have been working with Akshay, who has been prepping for the part since May. The costume team has been working with fabrics that reflect the designs from Kolkata in the ’40s and have been tailored to enhance Akshay’s character,” a source close to the development told Mirror.

While details of Akshay’s character had been strictly under wraps, a picture of his look, along with his leading lady, Mouni Roy, surfaced online from the film’s sets recently. While a clean-shaven Akshay is seen in a kurta and slick hair, Mouni dons a Bengali-style blouse and sari with a crimped hairdo. Mirror had earlier reported (June 22) that Gold is also the popular TV actress’s Bollywood breakthrough after a cameo in Anubhav Sinha’s Tum Bin 2.

“Mouni plays Akshay’s love interest in the film and will also be seen speaking in Bengali. She will wear bright sarees in shades of red with puffy blouses and roses in her hair to be insync with the showcased era. It’s a small yet prominent part,” the source added.

The Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani production, that had been in the pipeline for the last one year, also features Amit Sadh and Kunal Kapoor in pivotal roles. Reema, who made her directorial debut with Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, went on to co-write Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Dil Dhadakne Do. After her last directorial, the 2012 Aamir Khan-thriller, Talaash, Reema accompanied Zoya for the research and recce of the latter’s next, Gully Boys, which will feature Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt.