Lara Dutta – who recently shot for Akshay Kumar’s spy-thriller BellBottom – recounts her experiences of shooting amidst the coronavirus global pandemic
The cast and crew of BellBottom recently wrapped their filming, making the Akshay Kumar starrer the first Bollywood feature film to be shot completely during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis. And Lara Dutta who was a part of the star-cast reveals that though challenging, this unusual time was dealt with professionalism and personal attention.
As for the excitement of returning to work, Lara adds, “When the shooting finally began, I was the first actor on the sets. To be part of the first film to be shot after the lockdown felt hugely gratifying. I felt grateful to be on a set where every single precaution possible was being taken, sanitisation was meticulous and the cast and crew were checked every day. Everything was secure, right from the food delivery on sets to the drivers who took us to and fro. Yes, we had to remove our masks during scenes but because we felt safe in a strictly regulated environment, we just wanted to do our job to the best of our abilities. ”
Pooja Entertainment, the studio behind hits like Coolie No. 1, Hero No. 1, Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, and many more became the first production house to start shooting during the Covid-19 pandemic. Directed by Ranjit M Tewari and written by Aseem Arrora and Parveez Shaikh, BellBottom joins the league of international, mega-budget films that got back on the floors during the pandemic such as Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible 7 and Jurassic Park: Dominion, managing to shoot in an unprecedented environment. In the process, Bellbottom has become the first film to complete shooting the entire film during the pandemic.