• Akshay Kumar leads a team of spies in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    Akshay Kumar leads a team of spies in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
  • Akshay Kumar in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    Akshay Kumar in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
  • Akshay Kumar leads a team of spies in Bollywood thriller 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    Akshay Kumar leads a team of spies in Bollywood thriller 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
  • Akshay Kumar in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    Akshay Kumar in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
  • Akshay Kumar says he immediately accepted the role when director Ranjit M Tewarni and writer Aseem Arora approached him with the script in 2019. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    Akshay Kumar says he immediately accepted the role when director Ranjit M Tewarni and writer Aseem Arora approached him with the script in 2019. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
  • Akshay Kumar and Vaani Kapoor in 'Bell Bottom'. The film was extensively shot in Glasgow. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    Akshay Kumar and Vaani Kapoor in 'Bell Bottom'. The film was extensively shot in Glasgow. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
  • Denzil Smith and Lara Dutta as prime minister Indira Gandhi. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    Denzil Smith and Lara Dutta as prime minister Indira Gandhi. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
  • Akshay Kumar in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    Akshay Kumar in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
  • Kumar is known for bringing little-known stories into mainstream pop culture. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    Kumar is known for bringing little-known stories into mainstream pop culture. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
  • Akshay Kumar as a spy in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    Akshay Kumar as a spy in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
  • Akshay Kumar and Vaani Kapoor in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    Akshay Kumar and Vaani Kapoor in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
  • Vaani Kapoor in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    Vaani Kapoor in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
  • 'Bell Bottom' is a fictional retelling of a real-life incident. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    'Bell Bottom' is a fictional retelling of a real-life incident. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
  • Akshay Kumar and Vaani Kapoor in 'Bell Bottom'. Pooja Entertainment
    Akshay Kumar and Vaani Kapoor in 'Bell Bottom'. Pooja Entertainment
  • 'Bell Bottom' is about a hijacking in the 1980s. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    'Bell Bottom' is about a hijacking in the 1980s. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
  • Lara Dutta as Indira Gandhi in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
    Lara Dutta as Indira Gandhi in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment

Akshay Kumar on the lessons he learnt during the pandemic: 'Covid-19 spared no one'


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  • Arabic

When it comes to turning real-life stories into box office money-spinners, no Bollywood star has a better track record than Akshay Kumar.

From 2016’s Airlift, about a businessman who helped evacuate Indians stranded during the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, to Pad Man, the 2018 comedy about the inspiring story of a man who invented a machine to make low-cost sanitary pads for women, Kumar is known for bringing little-known stories into mainstream pop culture.

In turn, he’s reaped major successes along the way. His 2019 film Mission Mangal, for instance, about a group of scientists who put together India’s first interplanetary space probe, made more than 2.9 billion rupees (approximately $39 million) globally. It was also one of the highest-grossing films in India that year.

Kumar, 53, is back to form with his latest film Bell Bottom, out now in the UAE, about a group of spies tasked with foiling an active hijacking in the 1980s.

“I absolutely love espionage thrillers, especially those based on real-life events, and Bell Bottom was just that,” he tells The National. “It was an unknown story waiting to be told, inspired by true events from the 1980s – an era infamous for several [plane] hijackings."

Kumar says he immediately accepted the role when director Ranjit M Tewari (Lucknow Central, 2017) and writer Aseem Arora approached him with the script in 2019.

Bell Bottom is an extraordinary story from start to finish. How can you not want to make something so thrilling?

Akshay Kumar in 'Bell Bottom', an espionage thriller based on true events. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
Akshay Kumar in 'Bell Bottom', an espionage thriller based on true events. Photo: Pooja Entertainment

“The movie transports you back to the past and unwraps one of the most extraordinary stories of intelligence, espionage and action involving [an] agent and how he formulates India’s first covert operation. It doesn’t get any better than that,” he says. “Also, it’s got great music and phenomenal fashion and swagger.”

The film’s title is the code name of its lead character, played by Kumar, who heads a team of agents from RAW, or the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency. Actress and former Miss Universe Lara Dutta also stars in the film as former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

One of the first major movies to get a cinema release after India’s deadly second wave of the coronavirus, Kumar says he’s glad the film has been relatively on schedule, despite missing its initial January 2021 release date.

Shot extensively in Glasgow and other parts of Scotland, Bell Bottom was one of the few films still in production during the lockdowns in 2020.

Akshay Kumar and Vaani Kapoor in 'Bell Bottom', which was extensively shot in Glasgow. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
Akshay Kumar and Vaani Kapoor in 'Bell Bottom', which was extensively shot in Glasgow. Photo: Pooja Entertainment

“About a month and a half into the pandemic and the lockdown, I was restless as it was the longest I had been away from facing a camera. I was in conversation with Vashu [Bhagnani, producer], who was then in the UK. And while speaking to him, I suggested we shoot the film abroad in a bio-bubble, and within seconds he agreed,” Kumar recalls.

“It was certainly a different experience for sure. While we are used to filming with hundreds of people on a set, we only had the bare minimum necessary to operate, we stuck to our hotel rooms and everyone followed strict Covid-19 protocols.

“Overall, I am happy we could finally film and I was truly grateful to finally hear ‘lights, camera, action’ after such a long time.”

Deepshikha Deshmukh of Pooja Entertainment, producers or Bell Bottom, says the motive was "to bring joy to the millions of fans who have had a difficult year and a half with the lockdown, and importantly support the tens of thousands of cinema industry members including theatres, exhibitors and distributors".

"We were aware of the risks we were taking to film a production amid the first wave of the pandemic and now, very aware of the risk to release the film theatrically during the pandemic," she says.

"Someone had to start and we hope that with Bell Bottom we can bring hope and optimism for the industry."

Denzil Smith as RN Kao, India's first chief of RAW, and Lara Dutta as former prime minister Indira Gandhi in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment
Denzil Smith as RN Kao, India's first chief of RAW, and Lara Dutta as former prime minister Indira Gandhi in 'Bell Bottom'. Photo: Pooja Entertainment

Kumar, whose breakthrough Bollywood film Khiladi was released in 1992, is one the highest-paid actors in the country. He and his wife, former actress Twinkle Khanna, also run a film production company called Hari Om Entertainment. The couple, along with many of their Bollywood colleagues, were known for stepping up and lending a hand to those in need during India's lockdown.

Kumar says the pandemic has changed him in many ways and reminded him of his privileges.

“The lockdowns forced you to take a step back and take stock of the meaning and value of life and what we really need to focus our time, attention and energy on,” he says. “Covid-19 spared no one, in whatever shape and form it touched our lives. It has no care for the colour of your skin or your social status or gender.”

A prolific actor known for his versatility, Kumar has two other films ready for release. Prithviraj, a historical film about king Prithviraj Chauhan, who ruled north-west India in the 1100s, is set to be released in November. The film will also mark the Bollywood debut of Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar.

Then there’s Sooryavanshi with director Rohit Shetty, known for his bombastic films with larger-than-life characters. The action-comedy, which was supposed to be released last year, does not have a new date yet.

“I’m excited for the release of both films: Sooryavanshi is an action-packed super cop saga and Prithviraj is a period drama. I have also recently completed the schedules for Bachchan Pandey and Raksha Bandhan as well,” he says.

“I have just started a new film, which I’m filming in the UK, and upon its completion I plan to go for a start-to-finish schedule of Ram Setu around mid-October. And as soon as that is over, I’ll jump into OMG 2, which will again be a start-to-finish schedule.”

At this stage in his career, Kumar says there aren’t any roles he won’t do.

“There are countless ways a role could be performed. It also depends on the context at large. So if the role and context works, there’s always a reason to consider it,” he says. “The one reason I won’t consider a role is if I don’t see myself in it.”

Bell Bottom is now showing in the UAE

Favourite things

Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery

Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount

University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China

Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai

Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China

Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs

KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE

2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.

2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus

2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.

2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.

2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.

MATCH INFO

Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')

Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')

Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)

Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press

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Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.

  • It’s So Easy
  • Mr Brownstone
  • Chinese Democracy
  • Welcome to the Jungle
  • Double Talkin’ Jive
  • Better
  • Estranged
  • Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
  • Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
  • Rocket Queen
  • You Could Be Mine
  • Shadow of Your Love
  • Attitude (Misfits cover)
  • Civil War
  • Coma
  • Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
  • Sweet Child O’ Mine
  • Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
  • Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
  • November Rain
  • Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
  • Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
  • Nightrain

Encore:

  • Patience
  • Don’t Cry
  • The Seeker (The Who cover)
  • Paradise City
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'

Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.

Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.

"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.

"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.

"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

RACECARD

6pm Emaar Dubai Sprint – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Turf) 1,200m

6.35pm Graduate Stakes – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

7.10pm Al Khail Trophy – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,810m

7.45pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m

8.20pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,000m

8.55pm Downtown Dubai Cup – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 1,400m

9.30pm Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m

10.05pm Dubai Sprint – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m 

Most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20Middle%20East
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Ireland (15-1):

Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour

Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)

School counsellors on mental well-being

Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.

Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.

Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.

“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.

“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.

“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.

“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”

Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.

The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.

At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.

“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.

“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.

"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”

FIGHT CARD

Sara El Bakkali v Anisha Kadka (Lightweight, female)
Mohammed Adil Al Debi v Moaz Abdelgawad (Bantamweight)
Amir Boureslan v Mahmoud Zanouny (Welterweight)
Abrorbek Madaminbekov v Mohammed Al Katheeri (Featherweight)
Ibrahem Bilal v Emad Arafa (Super featherweight)
Ahmed Abdolaziz v Imad Essassi (Middleweight)
Milena Martinou v Ilham Bourakkadi (Bantamweight, female)
Noureddine El Agouti v Mohamed Mardi (Welterweight)
Nabil Ouach v Ymad Atrous (Middleweight)
Nouredin Samir v Zainalabid Dadachev (Lightweight)
Marlon Ribeiro v Mehdi Oubahammou (Welterweight)
Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight

Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage

Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid 

Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani

Rating: 4/5

The Buckingham Murders

Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu

Director: Hansal Mehta

Rating: 4 / 5

A little about CVRL

Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.

One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases. 

The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery. 

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Directed: Smeep Kang
Produced: Soham Rockstar Entertainment; SKE Production
Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Jimmy Sheirgill, Sunny Singh, Omkar Kapoor, Rajesh Sharma
Rating: Two out of five stars 

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Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

'Joker'

Directed by: Todd Phillips

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix

Rating: Five out of five stars

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

RESULTS
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THE%20SWIMMERS
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RACE CARD

6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m

7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m

7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m

8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m

8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m

10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin

Director: Shawn Levy

Rating: 3/5

Set-jetting on the Emerald Isle

Other shows filmed in Ireland include: Vikings (County Wicklow), The Fall (Belfast), Line of Duty (Belfast), Penny Dreadful (Dublin), Ripper Street (Dublin), Krypton (Belfast)

Updated: August 23, 2021, 4:40 AM