Bellbottom was among the first Hindi films to be shot after the first wave of the pandemic as Akshay Kumar led the unit to Scotland and subsequently, London, last August for a start-to-finish schedule. Now, as the Ranjit M Tewari-directed spy thriller is likely to become the first Hindi movie to have a theatrical release post the second wave, Vaani Kapoor hopes it will help in reviving the exhibition sector.

“I’m excited at the prospect of our industry restarting because it has endured the relentless onslaught of the pandemic. I’m thankful to the producers and Akshay sir for their decision to release Bellbottom in theatres. Hopefully, the film will play a huge role in bringing people back to the movie halls.”

The movie, also featuring Huma Qureshi and Lara Dutta, sees Kapoor returning to the big screen after the blockbuster, War (2019). She says her complete faith in the material saw her through the long wait. “It’s a solid product, and one has to see the film to understand what Akshay sir has done. I’m grateful to have a big movie coming out now. Due to the virus, it has been a long wait to see my films get a release.”