Akshay Kumar Addresses Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor's Absence from 'Welcome to the Jungle'; Will They Return for Next Installment?
Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar addressed the absence of veteran co-stars Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar from Welcome to the Jungle, reassuring fans that they remain central to the franchise and will likely return for a future fourth installment.
Actor Akshay Kumar has addressed the absence of veteran actors Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar from the upcoming comedy Welcome to the Jungle. The duo, who famously portrayed the fan-favourite gangster characters Uday Shetty and Majnu Bhai in the franchise's previous instalments, are missing from the third film, sparking questions from fans. 'Welcome to the Jungle' Review: Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal's Chaotic Comedy Adventure Entertains but Doesn't Live Up to the Franchise's Legacy.
Akshay Kumar On Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar and ‘Welcome 4’
Kumar reassured audiences that the two actors remain an integral part of the franchise's identity and hinted at a potential return in future iterations.
Akshay Kumar on Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor in Welcome
Speaking about their absence, Kumar emphasised that the cast of the franchise shares a tight-knit bond.
"Welcome is a full family. This is Nana, Mr Anil, me and all the people. This is like family. If Welcome 4 is ever made, you will find all of them [in it]," Kumar stated in an interaction with PTI.
While the iconic characters of Uday and Majnu are not featured in Welcome to the Jungle, the film introduces their siblings to bridge the gap. Suniel Shetty and Arshad Warsi have joined the cast to play their respective brothers, Yeda Anna and Romeo.
Director Ahmed Khan on Staying in Touch
The film's director, Ahmed Khan, shared that despite their absence from the sets, both Kapoor and Patekar remained closely connected with the team during production.
"We talked all the time. We used to call during the shoot," Khan said. He noted that Patekar recently called him to check on the progress of the film, asking when he could watch it, while jokingly adding, "Tell Akshay that I am not available."
Khan added that Kapoor also reached out to check on the project, expressing interest in collaborating again. "Anil sir called and said, 'How is it going? And next time we will plan something,'" the filmmaker added.
The original Welcome, released in 2007, became a cult classic, largely driven by the comedic chemistry between Kumar, Patekar, and Kapoor. While Kumar skipped the 2015 sequel, Welcome Back, Kapoor and Patekar returned to anchor the film alongside John Abraham and Shruti Haasan.
For the third instalment, Kumar returns to headline an expansive ensemble cast. Directed by Khan, Welcome to the Jungle features Paresh Rawal, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, and Raveena Tandon.
The plot of the new film shifts away from the city-based antics of the previous movies, focusing on a group of gangsters and eccentric characters who cross paths in a border-area jungle, leading to a series of chaotic misadventures. Jacqueline Fernandez’s Bodyguard Holds Her Wrist as She Poses With Fans; Angry Netizens Call It ‘Bad Touch’ (Watch Video).
Welcome to the Jungle is presented by A A Nadiadwala, Cape of Good Films, and Star Studio 18, in association with Seeta Films and Rakesh Dang.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 26, 2026 04:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
