Why Is Anil Kapoor Not In Welcome To The Jungle? Director Reveals 'It Is Not A Film For Majnu' | Exclusive

The third film in the famous 2007 Welcome franchise, Welcome To The Jungle, is one of the most anticipated films. As excitement about the film grows, fans are curious to know why, if it is a film in the Welcome franchise, the popular

characters of Uday and Majnu, played by Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor, are not a part. To clear this doubt, News18 Showsha spoke to the movie’s director, Ahmed Khan recently. Read on to know what he has to say about the multi-starrer.

When asked why the original cast was not retained, Khan shared, “So the thought was very different. If you see Welcome, it is a film that is regularly made, and there is nothing like the similar cast. Akshay (Kumar) was in the first one, John (Abraham) was in the second one, and now again Akshay is in the third one. So it was a complete 360 turnaround from the Welcome series. So it’s okay, people keep coming and going.”

When asked if Anil Kapoor or Nana Patekar was approached, Khan quickly denied, saying, “No, I mean they were not approached. We did speak to them if they wanted to be a part, but it was not a film for Uday, Majnu, it is a different script.”

Making Welcome To The Jungle wasn’t easy because of the massive cast Ahmed had to put together. Speaking about the same, he shared, “Very difficult, but it’s a filmmaker’s journey. There were so many hurdles, so many apprehensions, but a director has to go through hell to make a film. Welcome has been a tough journey for me because of the cast I have. To manage the actors’ dates, money, and requirements isn’t an easy journey.”

Welcome To The Jungle – Plot and Other Details

Welcome To The Jungle, directed by Ahmed Khan and produced by Firoz Nadiadwala, is regarded as one of Bollywood’s most ambitious comic spectacles currently in production. The film promises larger-than-life sets, high-energy comedy, and the trademark chaos that made the Welcome series so popular.

The Welcome franchise, which debuted in 2007 with Anees Bazmee’s Welcome and was followed by Welcome Back in 2015, remains a fan favourite due to its outrageous humour and unforgettable characters. Despite repeated delays since its announcement in 2023, Welcome To The Jungle has sparked intense interest among fans.