Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor, renowned for their roles as Uday Shetty and Majnu Bhai in Anees Bazmee’s comedy classic Welcome, have decided not to reprise their characters in the upcoming film Welcome to the Jungle.
Despite fan anticipation for their return, Patekar revealed why they opted out of the franchise’s latest instalment.
Nana Patekar Says ‘There’s No Story’ In Welcome To The Jungle
In an interview with The Lallantop, Patekar explained, “They did approach us. We said no. Kahani nahi hai. Utna maza nahi aaya. (There’s no story. We didn’t enjoy it as much).” He emphasized the importance of their partnership, stating, “It wouldn’t have been complete if Anil and I weren’t doing it together. If Anil and I are there, then only Welcome is possible. If you remove me, then he alone can’t make Welcome and vice-versa.”
Reflecting on the sequel Welcome Back and its lacklustre performance at the box office, Patekar expressed reservations about continuing without a strong narrative foundation.
More About The Film
Directed by Ahmed Khan Welcome to the Jungle is set to bring back the comedic flair of the original film, with Akshay Kumar leading an ensemble cast of over 30 actors.
Despite completing its first schedule in Aarey, Maharashtra, sources suggest the film may delay its anticipated December 2025 release due to extensive VFX work and additional filming schedules.
Shreyas Talpade, who plays a significant role in the film, teased, “It’s a pretty interesting and funny story about these guys all coming together and pulling off a kind of stunt. The brief was very clear, let’s have some madness on set and let’s make sure we entertain people.”
Welcome to the Jungle features an array of Bollywood stars including Disha Patani, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Jacqueline Fernandez, Tusshar Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Daler Mehndi, and Mika Singh.
(Also read: Akshay Kumar’s Welcome To The Jungle Postpone To 2025 Due To Pending Multiple Schedules And VFX)
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