Sidharth Malhotra has his fingers crossed for Aiyaary

Aiyaary, set for release on February 9, is yet to receive a censor certificate. Lead actor Sidharth Malhotra is hopeful that the film will have a smooth journey to the screens.

According to reports, since the film is set against an army backdrop, the Defence Ministry wants to review it. This comes after Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat was viewed by a special panel as part of the censor board's certification process.

Questioned if these things will affect the way films are made and released, Sidharth says, "Our producers are tackling it. It's in the process. Each film has its own reasons. Our film doesn't have severe issues as far as I know after talking with my producers. I have full faith that our producers will come up with a positive result. I hope that our film will have a smooth release."

On Aiyaary, which also features Manoj Bajpayee, he says, "The experience of shooting the film has been wonderful. For the first time, I am playing an army and military intelligence officer in an army uniform. We shot this film in Kashmir, London, Delhi, Mumbai, and Cairo, so it has got very wide landscape."

"I am very excited and nervous for Aiyaary. Spy thriller is a new zone for me and it is a very relevant film, so I am hoping the audience would like our film. I think with entertainment, the audience can relate to the issue which we have shown in the film. So, our entire team of Aiyaary is looking forward to the release of the film," he adds.

On rumours that Aiyaary could be released tax-free, Sidharth says, "No, we haven't spoken about it yet. But if that happens, it will be a great as more people will be able to enjoy the film. According to me, this film is very relevant because, while it maintains the thriller vibe, it also speaks about certain social issues."

Also featuring Anupam Kher, Naseeruddin Shah, Rakulpreet Singh and Pooja Chopra, Aiyaary is produced by Motion Picture Capital and directed by Neeraj Pandey.