Ajay Devgn on Bholaa action scenes: The motorcycle sequences were the most challenging

Ajay Devgn was one of the few Bollywood actors to have a successful year at the box office last year with Drishyam 2. All attention is now on his upcoming film opposite Tabu, Bholaa. The movie, which chronicles the tale of one night when an ex-convict helps the police nab gangsters in exchange for meeting his daughter, may have emotions at its core. But action takes centre stage as actor-director Devgn interprets Lokesh Kanagaraj's 2019 Tamil hit Kaithi in his own way.

This is demonstrated in scenes from the recently released trailer. For example, in one scene, the lead character swings from a moving vehicle to a bike with dramatic effect.

Devgn acknowledges that the motorcycle sequences were the most difficult. He told Mid Day that it took months of storyboarding and creating the action sequences before they got down to shooting them. When asked how long it took to shoot them, the actor-director responded by saying that it doesn't take long to shoot when one's planning and preparation have been complete in every aspect. After 73 to 75 days, the entire movie was finished.

The actor has nearly 30 years of experience performing motorcycle stunts; in his 1991 debut movie, Phool Aur Kaante, he split into two bikes. Even though he went on to show how versatile he was as an artist, he started his career as an action hero.

Devgn thinks it was important for action directors Ramazan Bulut and RP Yadav to think outside the box. This is especially true now when people on social media are quick to point out when an action scene is similar to one from a foreign film.

He said that when one doesn't have any references, they have to be creative in order to build new stunts that fit the story. Devgn says that being tech-savvy helped him make Bholaa a 3D and IMAX experience that was more immersive.

The actor gets to learn and experience something new with every movie. They haven't tried anything like what you see in Bholaa before, like in Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior or Runway 34.