Akshay Kumar's 'Bell Bottom' was released a few days ago and it became first film to have a proper theatrical release since the Covid-19 outbreak. The film opened in parts of the country which aren't under lockdown and in some selected theatres abroad. However, the film has been banned in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait due to its subject matter. The film is centered around a plane hijacking and apparantly it twists facts and shows these middle eastern countries in bad light.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “The second half of Bellbottom shows the hijackers taking the aircraft to Dubai from Lahore. As per the actual incident that took place in 1984, U.A.E Defence Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, had personally handled the situation and it was the U.A.E authorities who had nabbed the hijackers. In Bellbottom, Indian officials, including the character played by Akshay Kumar, are shown as heroes of the episode. They also keep the U.A.E Defence Minister in dark about their operation. So there’s a strong possibility that the Censor Board in the Middle Eastern countries must have taken objection to it and hence banned it.”

Directed by Ranjit Tewari, the film also stars Huma Qureshi, Vaani Kapoor and Lara Dutta.