EXCLUSIVE: “What’s wrong with that? It’s just a character” – says Akshay Kumar on Lara Dutta playing an older character than him in Bellbottom

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By Monica Yadav -

August 10, 2021 - 8:07 PM IST

Over the years, there have been a lot of discussions surrounding actors paired opposite younger actresses in films. In recent times, we’ve witnessed rare cases like Gunday, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Ki & Ka where actresses are older than the male actors. In 2021, when these things continue to happen, there’s a constant debate around why it often happens but vice versa is still a rare phenomena. The conversation recently ignited around Lara Dutta who plays the role of Indira Gandhi in Akshay Kumar’s Bellbottom. The trailer left everyone quite surprised with Dutta’s makeover.

EXCLUSIVE: “What’s wrong with that? It’s just a character” – says Akshay Kumar on Lara Dutta playing an older character than him in Bellbottom

For unversed, Lara Dutta debuted in Bollywood in 2002 opposite Akshay Kumar in Andaaz. Cut to 2021, the actress who is seven years younger than Kumar, is playing a character older than him but the opportunity to play a distinct character is clearly is pretty interesting for the actress. Interestingly, Vaani Kapoor who is 21 years younger than Kumar is playing his wife. When asked Akshay Kumar, during Bellbottom promotions, why does it happen often with actresses but not actors, he says, “What’s wrong with that? It’s just a character. I remember Amitabh Bachchan and Rakhee playing husband and wife in Bemishal. A few years later, Rakhiji played his mother in Shakti. Both the films did quite well.”

With Bellbottom, it was Akshay Kumar who approached Lara Dutta for the role because he thought she had the perfect personality for it. But, the actress thought it was a prank by Kumar on her when he offered her the role. When asked why Dutta was apt for the role, he adds, “Because of her perfect body structure, I've known Lara for quite some time and she has that perfect poise in her which made me feel she can carry this off. She thought I was pranking her but I wanted her to do this. Even I was scared when I saw her and nobody recognised her”

Everyone’s talking about Lara Dutta’s amazing makeover. Akshay Kumar admits that even his sister couldn’t recognize her. When asked if he expected this kind of reaction, he says, “Absolutely! I'll tell you why. My sister has watched Bell Bottom twice. After watching it for the second time she asked me, "Where is Lara in the film?" That's when I realised that she didn't even recognise Lara is in the film. So I told her that Indira Gandhi character is Lara. And she was shocked. And my sister was there on shoot, not on the set but she was there so that's why she asked ‘We took Lara for the shoot but where is she in the film?’”

Bellbottom will be unlocking cinemas after a long haul. The film will hit the theatres worldwide on August 19, 2021.

Also Read: Akshay Kumar wants Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra to play him in his biopic; reacts to viral memes on social media