Key facts
- Anjali Anand says she was in Bell Bottom only for a terrorist to fall on her
- Bell Bottom starred Akshay Kumar
- Remark critiques superficial female roles in Bollywood action films
Anjali Anand has delivered one of Bollywood's more pointed pieces of self-critique in recent memory, saying that her entire presence in the Akshay Kumar action film 'Bell Bottom' amounted to little more than being someone a terrorist could fall on top of. The remark, made with evident dry wit, is a sharp commentary on the quality of roles available to supporting actresses in mainstream Hindi commercial cinema.
'Bell Bottom', released in 2021, was a period action thriller set against the backdrop of an airline hijacking. While the film featured a strong central role for Akshay Kumar, Anjali Anand's observation suggests her own part was purely functional — a prop to the action rather than a character with agency.
Her candour is striking because actresses in Bollywood, particularly those at a mid-level in the industry, rarely speak so directly about the inadequacy of their own roles. The comment implicitly critiques both the writers and directors who reduce female characters to set-dressing in action blockbusters and the industry norms that make such casting routine.
Anjali Anand, who has been more prominent in web series and comedic work, appears to be using the platform of her current press rounds to be refreshingly direct about the realities of working in commercial Hindi films. Her words are likely to resonate with audiences and fellow actors who have long noticed the same pattern.