Actor most affected among peers by the lockdown
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 19, 2020)

On March 19, various film bodies called for a shutdown of all production work in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak in India. Five days later, the nationwide lockdown was announced. With shoots stalled and releases deferred, the impact has been felt at multiple levels. Akshay Kumar, who is at work for the most part of the year, is using this lockdown to read scripts and take virtual narrations. Meanwhile, he has seven films in various stages of production. Here’s a look at what his slate looks like this year:

1. Bachchan Pandey
After Housefull 4, Akshay teams up with producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Farhad Samji on this action-entertainer, which was to go on the floors in May. The team had decided on the locations and was to go on a recce towards March-end, when the lockdown was announced. The script is currently being fleshed out.

2. Prithviraj
The period-drama was scheduled for a Diwali 2020 release, but reportedly 50 per cent of the film remains to be shot. Akshay plays the title role of Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan, with Manushi Chhillar making her acting debut opposite him as Sanyogita. According to trade sources, the film is unlikely to keep its festival date.


3. Atrangi Re
Akshay’s first collaboration with Aanand L Rai, the film is a cross-cultural love story, moving from Bihar to Madurai, and is set in two different eras. The actor was to start shooting for his ‘special role’ on April 15. The film also features Dhanush and Sara Ali Khan.


4. Laxmmi Bomb
In this horror-comedy, Akshay plays a character possessed by a transgender ghost. The film is under post-production, with the team, including visual effects and editing, working from home to get the final cut ready. Buzz is, makers are negotiating for a direct-to-digital release, but no announcement has been made yet. The suspense continues...


5. Bell Bottom
A period spy-thriller set in the ’80s, this Ranjit Tewari directorial was to kick off in India and move to multiple locations abroad in August. But, according to a source, the logistics may now have to be reworked as shooting outside India might not be feasible over the next year. Meanwhile, the makers are fine-tuning the script.


6. Sooryavanshi
The film marks Akshay Kumar’s entry in Rohit Shetty’s cop universe, which comprises Singham and Simmba. Its March 24 release has been indefinitely postponed due to the Coronavirus outbreak, but Shibasish Sarkar, one of the producers of the action-thriller, has confirmed that it will be among the first major films to release in the theatres once things return to normal. Eight-10 days of post-production on the film still remains to be rushed through.

7. Ekta Kapoor’s action-comedy
After Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara, Akshay teams up with Ekta Kapoor on an action-comedy which is a remake of a Telugu hit. As his calendar was blocked until November, he had allotted dates from December. Now, the film is expected to be delayed by at least six months. The team is currently adapting the original screenplay, keeping a pan-India audience in mind.
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What happens now?

Once the film associations, following a directive from the government, decide to restart shoots, Akshay will sit down with all his producers and rework the entire calendar, accommodating all prior commitments. According to a source, the actor isn’t looking to start shooting any time before October 2020. Following an expected cumulative delay of eight months, the cascading effect will push all his films, but the actor is known to be a thorough professional and will ensure that he wraps up the projects at the earliest.

Vaani Kapoor joins the actor in Ranjit Tewari’s next, inspired by true events and set in the 1980s; film scheduled to roll in September
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 19, 2020)

On November 11, Akshay Kumar announced his next film, Bell Bottom, a “roller-coaster spy ride”. The period thriller is set in the ’80s and inspired by the true-life, heroic story of an Indian spy. Speculations were rife that the film will mark the acting debut of Kriti Sanon’s younger sister, Nupur, who had featured opposite Akshay in a music video recently. However, Mirror has learnt that makers of the Ranjit Tewari directorial have finalised Vaani Kapoor as the leading lady. She had last been seen romancing Hrithik Roshan in the 2019 action thriller, War.

“The script demanded a fresh pairing, Vaani was signed on a week ago and is excited for the shoot with Akshay. It’s not the usual female lead, a few romantic scenes and some songs. She plays Akshay’s wife and is integral to the narrative,” revealed a source close to the development, adding that the makers, Vashu and Jackky Bhagnani, along with Nikkhil Advani, are currently working towards developing a distinct look for Vaani. “Look tests will take place closer to the shoot.”

Akshay plays a suave secret agent and the team is busy with his look too—oversized coats, glares and designer shoes, along with a distinct hairstyle and a moustache. Recently, Jackky and Ranjit were with the actor in Jaisalmer fine-tuning the script and his character. The film will be shot at multiple locations, including on sets in Mumbai, and is expected to take off in September after Akshay wraps up Sajid Nadiadwala’s action-comedy Bachchan Pandey.

“Recce will start once the travel restrictions following the coronavirus outbreak are relaxed. The team is presently working towards recreating the 80’s decade with set designers and a visual effects team,” the source concluded.

With Bell Bottom slated for January 2021 release, sources say Akshay Kumar to postpone December 2020 release of Bachchan Pandey; Aamir Khan's Laal Singh Chaddha may enjoy a solo run
MID-DAY (November 12, 2019)

On Sunday, Akshay Kumar announced his new project, Bell Bottom, a spy drama that is inspired by true events. The Ranjit Tiwari-directed film is scheduled to hit theatres on January 22, 2021 — barely a month after the slated release of Kumar's action thriller, Bachchan Pandey. However, buzz suggests that the Farhad Samji-directed venture, which was eyeing a Christmas 2020 release, has been pushed for now.

A source reveals, "The scripting of Bachchan Pandey is underway and it will be a while before the final draft is ready. The pre-production too will be a time-consuming affair. So, Akshay and the producers are contemplating postponing the shoot, and by extension, the release. It works out to the advantage of the makers — the team will have enough time to fine-tune the script. Also, the film will avoid locking horns with Aamir Khan's passion project, Laal Singh Chaddha. As of now, Akshay is busy juggling the shoot of Laxmmi Bomb and Sooryavanshi. Next on the cards is Yash Raj Films' Prithviraj, which is a Diwali 2020 affair, and then he will most likely dive into the shoot of Bell Bottom. If all goes well, Bachchan Pandey will go on floors post that. It is unlikely that the two Akshay-starrers will come within a month of each other."