It is Akshay Kumar versus Jr NTR at the box office in June 2026. Akshay’s next, Welcome to the Jungle, which was originally due to release in 2025, has
now booked for June 26, 2026, as its release date. The comedy franchise, directed by Ahmed Khan, is officially setting up a clash with Jr NTR and Prashanth Neel’s Dragon which is releasing a day earlier on June 25, 2026. Dragon has the star power of the RRR actor Jr NTR with KGF filmmaker Prashanth, who are collaborating for the first time, while the Hindi film boasts of a massive star cast with nearly 30 actors.
Welcome to the Jungle locks in release date for June 2026
Following Welcome (2007) and Welcome Back (2015), Ahmed Khan’s Welcome to the Jungle will continue the comedy franchise as it releases on June 26. Produced by AA Nadiadwala and Star Studio18, in association with Cape of Good Films and Seeta Films, the date was unveiled on social media by trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
The large ensemble cast of the Hindi comedy includes Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Johnny Lever, Aftab Shivdasani, Lara Dutta, Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor, Daler Mehndi, Farida Jalal, Krishna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Kiran Kumar, Mukesh Tiwari, Yashpal Sharma, Vindu Dara Singh, Nawab Shah, Urvashi Rautela, Puneet Issar, Arjun Firoz Khan, Late Pankaj Dheer, Sudesh Berry, Hemant Pandey, Zakir Hussain, and Sayaji Shinde. The Hindi film has a one-week window at the box office as another comedy Dhamaal 4 releases in theatres on July 3, 2026. Besides Welcome to the Jungle, Akshay Kumar also has the films Bhoot Bangla and Haiwaan ready for release in 2026.
Jr NTR and Prashant Neel’s first collaboration, Dragon
After Devara Part 1 and War 2, Jr NTR fans are eagerly waiting for his next film, which is currently under production. Written and directed by Prashanth Neel, Dragon is an epic action saga set in 1969. The Telugu film also stars Kantara Chapter 1’s Rukmini Vasanth, Fighter’s Anil Kapoor and Tovino Thomas.
Dragon is Prashanth's second Telugu film after Salaar: Part 1 - Ceasefire. He is also working on its sequel, Salaar: Part 2 - Shouryanga Parvam. Dragon will be Jr NTR's 31st film project. The action movie has been shot in Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad and is preparing to film certain sequences in Africa.
