‘Everybody Moves On’: Ahmed Khan On Akshay Kumar-Raveena Tandon’s Reunion In Welcome To The Jungle

Welcome To The Jungle, starring Akshay Kumar is all set to release in theatres in a few days. One aspect of the film has generated considerable buzz—the on-screen reunion of Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon after more than two decades. The actors, who last shared screen space 22 years ago, have reunited for the multi-starrer comedy directed by Ahmed Khan. In a recent chat with Mid-Day, Ahmed Khan recalled Raveena’s reaction when he approached her for the film, which has Akshay playing the lead role. He also revealed that they were joking around and discussing about their kids on the sets of the film.

Ahmed Khan On Akshay Kumar And Raveena Reuniting On-Screen

Speaking about casting the two actors in the film, Ahmed Khan said his long-standing friendship with both stars played a key role. Having known Akshay

and Raveena for over three decades, the filmmaker said that they share a level of comfort and understanding that comes from years of friendship.

“Both Raveena and Akshay have been such good friends of mine. We have known each other for over 30 years and because we go back so long, we know what has happened in each other’s lives,” he said.

Ahmed Khan also revealed that the idea of bringing the former co-stars together stemmed from a desire to give audiences something nostalgic. He felt viewers would be excited to see the pair reunite on screen and considered it a treat for fans. According to him, Akshay was equally supportive of the decision and encouraged him to cast whoever suited the role best.

“People will want to see Raveena and Akshay together, so why not do fan service?”, said Ahmed Khan.

Raveena Had No Reservations

When Ahmed Khan approached Raveena for Welcome To The Jungle, he said she was completely at ease about working with Akshay again. “She said, ‘So what? We are all actors and grown up. We are all friends and we will have a blast on the sets,’” he recalled.

A Nostalgic Reunion

Although Akshay and Raveena are not paired opposite each other romantically in Welcome To The Jungle, they share several scenes together, along with a song choreographed by Rahul Shetty and Prince Gupta.

Their reunion carries added significance for Bollywood fans, considering the duo’s memorable collaborations in films such as Mohra (1994), which featured iconic songs like Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast and Tip Tip Barsa Paani. Recalling one of the shoot days, Khan shared that the atmosphere on set turned celebratory when Akshay and Raveena filmed a dance sequence together. “There is a sequence of Akshay and Raveena dancing together. The whole set clapped. Suniel Shetty, who also starred in Mohra, came in and said, ‘Arre, mere Mohra ki jodi aa gayi’,” said Ahmed Khan.

Ahmed Khan said that there was nothing awkward about the reunion. According to him, both actors were cordial and friendly throughout the shoot. Away from the camera, they spent time chatting, sharing laughs and discussing their children. He said that the film industry is a close-knit space where people eventually move beyond the past, and said Akshay and Raveena’s interactions reflected that maturity.

“It’s a small industry and everybody grows over their past and moves on. Off set, Raveena and Akshay were friends only — joking, having fun, and talking about their kids. We reminisced about the past and work from earlier movies,” he said.

The excitement around their on-screen reunion is also linked to their off-screen history. Akshay and Raveena were once among Bollywood’s most talked-about couples, with reports suggesting they were secretly engaged before ending their relationship. Both have since built families of their own—Akshay with wife Twinkle Khanna and their children Aarav and Nitara, and Raveena with husband Anil Thadani and their children Rasha and Ranbirvardhan.