WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE has been in the wars since launch as its been a mission to get the film completed and on release there were issues as well as the distributors seemed to sleeping with holdovers and even regional films were getting the edge over it. The advances opened late because of this and the response was nothing and it looked liked it had gone wrong in a big way.

The film has been playing catch up and it did well to get 3.50 crore nett in paid previews which looked pretty much impossible in the morning. The opening is not good also but the film will improve as the day goes along and like the paid previews, it should come out with some sort of number from where the film has a chance to succeed at the box office. It is a holiday for Muharram which should help its cause.

The trailer of the film looked hugely entertaining but the mass audience probably saw it as a bit spoofy and difficult to understand what the film is about. Also films based on films or the industry don't connect well with the masses and this would have held back the opening. Eventually though, if the film has good comedy, it will score and its about the response of the family audience over the weekend which will decide the fate of the film. The opening day now has to get to a level where it will stay in the race.

The film is picking up after a very low starting point and wherever the final day ends, it will be much more than what it looked like before the paid previews started though lower than the pre release expectations from the film. The expectations were around 17-18 crore nett but where it stood on the opening show, it looks a dream. The film does have momentum though and lets see where it goes through the day.

---------------------------------

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE did well on its first day as it collected 15 crore nett apprx with Hindi belts scoring well and singles screens in UP and Bihar also doing well after a long time. It was a holiday for Muharram. So, these pockets would have been aided by the holiday factor. The film also has around 3.5-3.75 crore nett from the paid previews which takes the film to around 18.75 crore nett.

The film has seen issues since launch with budget constraints and a race against time as it had to be released in the first half of the year due to the digital deal and it just about made it on time. There were release issues with the holdover films which has meant the film has a weaker release than BHOOTH BANGLA, despite having a potentially bigger audience. Then after this, the advances were bit of a disaster but now the film is looking at almost 19 crore nett up on the board after day one which would have looked a dream on Thursday.

It is the third best opening of the year after DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE and BORDER 2. Since there is a holiday factor in play, the growth will be limited on Saturday. In fact it would be even be a solid result if the film manages the same number as Friday on Saturday as these mass pockets in UP, Bihar and Rajasthan have out performed and are pretty certain to drop on Saturday. If the film is to go up, it will be down to multiplexes of the metros.

The film will be another 50 crore nett weekend for Akshay Kumar after JOLLY LLB 3 and BHOOTH BANGLA and then it will down to the run it can get after that. JOLLY LLB 3 did reasonably well while BHOOTH BANGLA also did very well and time will tell where WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE will stand as against the other two. Basically after three days, all three films will be standing in similar positions.

---------------------------------

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE saw very good collections on Saturday as it collected around 20 crore nett which takes the total of the film to 38.75 crore nett including the paid previews. The film is scoring above BHOOTH BANGLA till date which collected around 54.75 crore nett including paid previews till Sunday night and WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE will be well above that.

It was a holiday on Friday in parts and where Friday was a normal day, the film has growth of 50-60% which is a very good sign. Also these Muslim dominated centers, where Muharram is very effective as a holiday, are steady on Saturday; some are same and some are even a little higher. The film is doing well all over with the usual suspects for the genre of West Bengal and pockets of South being lower. The core is very good with Mumbai collecting 6.75-7 crore nett on Saturday and North (Delhi/UP and East Punjab) going to around 6 crore nett.

Then you have superb collections in Rajasthan and Bihar making it a good picture for the film all round. This is a film that could have been lying in the cans part complete but here after day two it is looking like a potential HIT film and maybe the fourth of the year. The collections and trend at the moment ensure a success and lets see where it goes over time.

The collections of WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE till date are as follows.

Thursday - 3,75,00,000 apprx

Friday - 15,00,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 20,00,00,000 apprx

---------------------------------

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE had a good first weekend collecting almost 64 crore nett including paid previews. The film put up a total of almost 25 crore nett on Sunday which could have been higher but generally collections slowed a little more than normal in the evening and it was the case with the holdover fims also. Those films eventually came out flat on Sunday but with the mass circuits on side, WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE still managed to get 20% plus growth.

The film is very good in Mumbai, North, CP, CI Rajasthan and Bihar while others a little less but that is expected as comedy works less in those zones. The collections are well ahead of BHOOTH BANGLA and JOLLY LLB 3 and before release it had looked like the numbers of those films would be hard to beat. As far as Akshay Kumar starrers go post pandemic, the figures are only less than SOORYAVANSHI and HOUSEFULL 5 but those were bigger films.

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE is like a film in a film and will have a lot industry jargon and these sort of films have a history of not doing well as the public finds them a bit spoofy. Its hard to recall a film based or film industry based film that has done well. Here the comedy looks to have superseded this angle but obviously that response in advances will have something to do with how it looked a film in a film in the trailer. Now its about where the film goes over the weekdays and if Monday can hold at around 50% of Friday, it would be a good result as Friday was bumped up by the holiday.

The Overseas market also saw a strong trend as it started with almost $500k on day one and may end with almost $2 million with Gulf leading the way.

The collections of WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE till date are as follows.

Thursday - 3,75,00,000 apprx

Friday - 15,00,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 20,00,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 24,75,00,000 apprx

The Marathi film DEOOL BAND 2 is coming to an end of its ran and stands at 67 crore nett and will finish at 68 crore nett plus which will make it the third highest grossing film in Marathi of all time. The biggest is SAIRAT which has 87 crore nett followed by BAIPAN BHARI DEVA at around 70 crore nett. The film is now in its sixth week and running with limited collections.

If we go by all languages then, RAJA SHIVAJI has the biggest collections of all time as it stands at around 90 crore nett. The surprise of this film was actually the Hindi version which collected 23 crore nett as for a Marathi film to collect this much in Hindi is pretty crazy. Its actually more than the big South dubbed film PEDDI released recently which will finish with 18 crore nett.

The top Marathi films of all time are as follows.

1. Sairat - 87cr apprx

2. Baipan Bhari Deva - 70 crore

4. Raja Shivaji - 67 crore (90 crore with Hindi)

5. Ved - 57 crore

COCKTAIL 2 released this week and has done so so business till date though it will not feature among the top ten Rom Com films of all time. However, in terms of cost, its probably the second biggest rom com ever after TU JHOOTHI MAIN MAKKAAR. The genre is one which came to the fore in the last thirty years as before that there were hardly any rom com films made.

Basically comedy films and rom coms gained traction at roughly the same time because in the 50's 60's 70's and 80's, there were not many comedy or rom com films as North, East and Central India was very unkind to these genres most of the time. It is actually hard to divide which is Rom Com and which is a love story for a film but if a film has drama which is stronger than the comedy and forms much of the film then that goes towards a love story. Drama on the lighter side means Rom Com.

The biggest Rom Com till date is TANU WEDS MANU RETURNS and it is so far ahead of the rest that it makes you doubt that is this film actually a Rom com but a Love Story. It is not for sure as comedy dominates through the film. This film got 1.5 crore footfalls while no other Rom com has even picked up 1 crore. The footfalls of COCKTAIL (2012) are under 90 lakhs.

There is sure to be something different with TANU WEDS MANU RETURNS compared to the other Rom Com films and it could be characterization, relatability or authenticity whereas most Rom coms tend to go the filmy/urban route which limits the business. If big films are still to be made in the genre, then this film is the one at as it stands above all by a margin. Otherwise the genre probably has to be made at a lower cost with possibly smaller casts.

The top ten Rom Com films of all time by footfalls are as follows. There could be some missings from the earlier years but that will not matter much in the context of business today. 

1. Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015)

2. Cocktail (2012)

3. Chotti Si Baat (1975)

4. Tere Mere Sapne (1996)

5. Dostana (2008)

6. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994)

7. Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011)

8. Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023)

9. De De Pyaar De (2019)

10. Lukka Chuppi (2019)

MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA is proving to be a HIT film in East Punjab as it catches the collections of a big new release like COCKTAIL 2 in just four days after its release. On Monday, COCKTAIL 2 has grossed around 53 lakhs nett while MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA is 47 lakhs nett. On Tuesday, its likely that MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA will be same or more than COCKTAIL 2 and East Punjab is one of the better performing circuits for the romcom.

MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA has that Punjabi flavour with partition relatability which means it is scoring excellent numbers in Gurgaon and the bigger centres of Punjab state. The film is sure to hit double digits in the circuit and could even challenge the collections of BHOOTH BANGLA in the circuit which is a 165 crore nett plus film across India.

This is not to say that MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA is a HIT and COCKTAIL 2 is a FLOP as the economics are all wrong for the former. Despite this huge appreciation in parts of the country, it will turn out to be a heavy loser unless this mini miracle spreads out and becomes a real miracle. It has to become a mini MAHAVATAR NARSIMHA in terms of box office collections to get somewhere.

Putting East Punjab aside and at an all India level, COCKTAIL 2, which actually does not have much appreciation, is actually standing in a better position simply because of the opening weekend. It again shows the importance of getting figures up on the first weekend especially if you have a cost associated for a film. Its basically a MUST for films with a budget.

-----------------------------------------

MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA did very well in the second week collecting around 20 crore nett which is almost double of the first week and is now standing at a total of 31 crore nett. The film has seen an excellent trajectory after the first weekend and has found solid appreciation with the gentry audience especially in NCR and Punjab. 

Despite the break out it will still be a big loser in terms of recovery as it it needed to break out from higher initial numbers. Here the film actually might do 60-65 crore nett or even more which is a HIT number for the content and face value of the film but not for the budget of the film.

-----------------------------------------

MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA continues its steady run as it collected 10.50 crore nett which is a little less than the second weekend but is still almost as much as the FIRST WEEK. The trend for the film is outstanding and its a good break out considering the opening day collections. In fact, the break out would have looked outstanding as well in the pre pandemic days but after what has happened to films like THE KASHMIR FILES and MAHAVATAR NARSIMHA is that they bought in the trends of the pre multiplex era and shown the levels you can go to with hardly any start. This used to happen many times in the 80's and 90's.

The film is a HIT in East Punjab and NCR while Mysore is also good but the rest are on the lower side. 

The collections of the film till date are as follows. 

Friday - 2,65,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 3,85,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 4,00,00,000 apprx

COCKTAIL 2 collected around 5.25 crore nett on Monday which is a drop of a little over 55% but there were places dropping 50% and then others were dropping 70%. Its not metro cities dropping 50% and mass centres dropping 70%. So, its basically going to be about when the dust settles for this film as the figures are all over the place which also means it could be a little higher or even lower on Monday. The range though is 5-5.50 crore nett.

But what is pretty clear this film does not give any boost to this Rom - Com genre and here there are production values which are at a higher level then most of the other films in the genre. Yet, the collections are a struggle. The genre needs some novelty and how the characterization of the male lead has to change if this genre is to get more footfalls.

The collections of COCKTAIL 2 stand at around 50 crore nett till date and it remains to be seen where the film goes from here. Its middling collections and time will tell do they remain middling over the next week or does the rejection of the film with core Hindi speaking areas feed through to the metro areas as well.

The collections of COCKTAIL 2 are as follows.

Friday - 12,25,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 15,50,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 16,50,00,000 apprx

Monday - 5,25,00,000 apprx

-----------------------------------------

COCKTAIL 2 picked up similar collections to Monday on Tuesday as the discounted tickets only gave the film a minimal uptick although the pricing did not go to lowest level. They were held a little higher than the normal discounted Tuesday. The film collected around 5.50 crore nett which takes the film to 55 crore nett. The next two days will determine where the week ends.

The film is likely to do more than its predecessor but that is a given as its more than a decade later. COCKTAIL (2012) did 73% of its business in its first week without any competition for two weeks and if COCKTAIL 2 can do something similar with the expected competition of WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE and ALPHA, it will mean a similar sort of appreciation though costs are much higher today. Basically the market for the genre is where it was a decade ago but costs involved in making films have risen tremendously.

The collections of COCKTAIL 2 are as follows.

Friday - 12,25,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 15,50,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 16,50,00,000 apprx

Monday - 5,25,00,000 apprx

Tuesday - 5,50,00,000 apprx

-----------------------------------------

COCKTAIL 2 had a fair first week thanks to a good weekend though it saw dropping collections over the weekdays. The film has collected 62.50 crore nett over its first week but the problem for the film is where it goes from here as appreciation is missing. It was the same story with COCKTAIL (2012) but there, the first week was very good relative to its costs that it did not matter much that the film could not go through.

Here, COCKTAIL 2 cant really afford to do 70-75% of its business in the first week as that wont be good enough. Obviously the film can still do well in week two but you have a big new release like WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE and on top the holdover MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA has started to beat it in areas where COCKTAIL 2 itself is best like NCR and Mysore. 

At best the film can be an AVERAGE fare if it can hold up well enough over the next few weeks and actually for this genre even getting to average is pretty good. If it does emerge an average fare, it will be mainly down to the music and the initial weekend. 

The collections of COCKTAIL 2 are as follows.  

Friday - 12,25,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 15,50,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 16,50,00,000 apprx

Monday - 5,25,00,000 apprx

Tuesday - 5,50,00,000 apprx

Wednesday - 4,00,00,000 apprx

Thursday - 3,50,00,000 apprx

-----------------------------------------

COCKTAIL 2 (Hindi) has gone over the 100 crore mark worldwide as it collects around 107 crore after eight days. The overseas figures are a bit disappointing as you would expect it to do better with the look and feel of the film. The initial weekend of the film was the same as TERI BAATON MEIN AISA ULJHA JIYA but its unlikely that the film can go on and match the lifetime of the 2024 romcom.

The film stands at about $1 million in US/Canada after eight days which should be the best market for the film but TERI BAATON MEIN AISA ULJHA JIYA did around $2.3 million which will be impossible for COCKTAIL 2 to catch. The film has performed better than TERI BAATON MEIN AISA ULJHA JIYA in Gulf initially but lifetime may end up with only similar figures. TERI BAATON MEIN AISA ULJHA JIYA did $5 million overseas and COCKTAIL 2 will stay well below the figure.

COCKTAIL (2012) did around $4.25 million and it remains to be seen if COCKTAIL 2 can get that much. The target for worldwide collections will be 150 crore but it wont be easy getting there and may have to settle for a little less.

The worldwide collections of COCKTAIL 2 till date are as follows. 

India -  79.25 crore (65.75 crore nett)

Overseas -  27 crore ($2.85 million)

-----------------------------------------

COCKTAIL 2 saw a drop in the second week as it collected 11 crore nett. The first weekend was 44 crore nett. So, its a drop of 75% from the first weekend. The film was set for a drop with the release of WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE but this is on the higher side. The film has collections of 73.50 crore nett so far which is below the mark.

A fair result for the film would have been a 100 crore nett total or something close but that looks tough now. It will beat the business of COCKTAIL (2012) and TERI BAATON MEIN AISA ULJHA JIYA. But COCKTAIL (2012) is over a decade back and TERI BAATON MEIN AISA ULJHA JIYA is a far lower costing film than COCKTAIL 2.

Basically the film got a start but could not really go on from there due to the content.

The collections of COCKTAIL 2 are as follows.

Friday - 12,25,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 15,50,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 16,50,00,000 apprx

Monday - 5,25,00,000 apprx

Tuesday - 5,50,00,000 apprx

Wednesday - 4,00,00,000 apprx

Thursday - 3,50,00,000 apprx

Friday - 3,00,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 4,00,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 4,00,00,000 apprx

Actor Akshay Kumar is riding high on the success of Welcome To The Jungle. At a time when every theatrical release feels like a gamble, the film’s strong box-office run has reaffirmed the actor’s enduring connect with audiences. Equally at home in action and comedy, Kumar sits down for a candid chat, making one thing clear at the outset: “Dekh, main dil se bolunga jo bolunga, headline ya TRP ke liye nahi.” Excerpts:

That I have some secret machine at home that produces four films a year! But it’s all about time management and discipline. Another misconception is that because I’ve been around for more than three decades, everything comes easy to me now. It doesn’t. Every Friday still feels like an exam result. Every film still gives me butterflies. The day I stop being nervous or excited about a new project, I think that’s the day I should retire. So no secret formula... just discipline, consistency and still having the hunger of a newcomer.

Being relevant and understanding what audiences want is one of the hardest things to predict. Sometimes you need to give audiences something they didn’t even know they wanted. Following trends doesn’t guarantee success either. The trick is not to be scared. If you believe in something, go for it wholeheartedly. There is no formula, just a lot of guts and prayers.

The most important person I wish to thank for not only today but also the past 20 years is (filmmaker) Anees Bazmee ji. This man is the creator of Welcome, without his genius filmmaking none of the 30+ cast members of Welcome To The Jungle, would be standing here enjoying this weekend, especially me.

The first rule of martial arts is to never forget where you come from… I will cherish Anees ji for what he has given us all and the road he paved for so many of us.

Welcome To The Jungle is quite literally standing on the shoulders of giants. From Anees ji, Ferozji (A Nadiadwala, filmmaker), Anil ji (Kapoor, actor) and Nana ji (Patekar, actor) and now my friend Ahmed (Khan, director of Welcome To The Jungle).

Just two words: Jai Mahakal!

That you can’t always trust your instincts. Sometimes you can love, admire and be excited about a project, yet it simply doesn’t connect with the audience. But I’m not the kind of actor who is only looking for blockbusters. There are so many stories to tell and so many talented artistes and technicians to work with. Some of my films over the last five years have been my favourites, and others I’m not sure even my family went to see. But I never stopped trying. Better to be relentless than too scared to make your next hit or flop.

The number of hungry artistes, writers and debut directors getting opportunities excites me. Personally, having come from the background that I have, I still love good old-fashioned action, memorable dialogues and songs you can listen to on repeat. Today everything moves so fast. One minute something is viral, the next minute it’s forgotten. All you can do is try to be the best version of yourself and hope people connect with it.

I do get nervous, but not to the point where I can’t eat or sleep. Give me home-cooked food and a pillow any day of the week and I’m happy. These days, I’m more nervous for everyone else involved in the film. I’ve experienced success, failure, heartache and triumph enough times. I just want the best for everyone around me.

Be authentic. Be original. Don’t try to look, dance or act like someone else. Be a producer’s actor and remember that you’re only as big as your last hit film. Stay humble on your way up, otherwise the fall will be much more painful.

Always have, always will. You never know where the next great idea will come from.

No matter how much you do later, there is no substitute for being present in a child’s life. Luckily, my wife (former actor and author Twinkle Khanna) understands better than anyone, but it’s hard for a child to understand why Daddy has to leave home to entertain others when all he wants is to make them laugh the most.

The earlier Welcome films were madness in a living room. This one is madness in a jungle! We’ve taken the chaos, multiplied it by ten and dropped everyone into the middle of nowhere.

There are helicopters, action sequences, mistaken identities and so many characters that even we sometimes needed a headcount on set. What makes it fresh is that it’s not just a comedy of dialogues anymore. It’s comedy on a much bigger canvas — an adventure-comedy where something goes wrong every five minutes.

What’s Welcome To The Jungle got right? According to Raveena Tandon, two things at least. Director Ahmed Khan’s ensemble comedy embraces its absurdity unapologetically. It also offers its female actors the opportunity to be an active part of the slapstick comedy. 

“We’ve evolved from the era when the heroine’s only job in a comedy was to look pretty and act shocked at the hero’s antics,” laughed Tandon, pointing out that Welcome To The Jungle — that stars Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, and her alongside Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and others — doesn’t follow that trope.

“The biggest change is agency. Female characters aren’t just reacting to the plot anymore; their choices and blunders move the story forward.”

Even as the small changes are appreciated, Tandon asserted that there is still a long way to go. “Actresses today are brilliant at self-deprecation and physical comedy, yet writers hesitate to give them the outright hilarious roles, slapstick, or absurd lines. We are still cast as the voice of reason reacting to the funny men. Films like ChaalBaaz [1989] or Andaz Apna Apna [1994] are etched into cinematic history because the women were devastatingly funny. There is still a lingering hesitation to back a mainstream comedy spearheaded by women.”

Tandon’s three-decade filmography includes several popular comedies, from Andaz Apna Apna to Dulhe Raja (1998) and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998). This time, it was the film’s absurdity that made her say yes.

“[Some] critics ask, ‘Where is the logic?’ But comedy has often been about the joy of absurdity — look at the works of Mel Brooks, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, or Jim Carrey. If someone is looking for logic in a film meant to be an escape, they are missing the genre’s purpose,” she stated.

Sure, the love that Sanjay Suri has been receiving for his performance in Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga has left him elated. Interestingly, it has also made the actor greedy for opportunities. “I don’t have much time left. I am 55! So, I better do more work,” he laughed.

What stopped him all these years? Over his 26-year career, the actor hasn’t been seen on screen as frequently as he would have liked. There is a reason for that, he stated.

“Throughout my career, the query has been ‘Why do we see less of you?’ My only answer would be that I felt underutilized. I would get a lot of offers [to play] a well-educated, well-to-do, smart, and suave guy. That’s where it ended. There would be nothing more to offer [in the roles]. So, there has been creative short-sightedness in imagining me,” explained Suri.

Hopefully, that will change. The actor believes that directors today prefer casting against type. He said, “Times have changed. For instance, someone did imagine Akshaye Khanna as Rehman Dakait [in Dhurandhar, 2025], right? These directors don’t want run-of-the-mill [casting], which is exciting. So, I’m hoping for diverse opportunities to come my way. The slotting still happens, but a few of the directors as well as OTT entertainment have changed that.”

June is Parenting Month, and actor Imran Khan opens up about fatherhood and his relationship with 12-year-old daughter Imara. He also shares how he approached introducing girlfriend, actor Likha Washington (42), to Imara.

Speaking about the importance of honesty in such situations, Imran says, “Lekha and I knew each other before we started dating and so Imara knew her too. It’s just the context of the relationship that changed and I wanted her to know when it happened. It’s part of being transparent. Trying to conceal anything from a child is unhealthy. That’s not how you build a healthy relationship.”

The 43-year-old adds, “Kids do what you do and not what you say. So I want to live my life in a way where I’m setting a healthy example for her. It’s important to speak to kids like they are rational, thinking beings and not treat them as lesser.”

Reflecting on their evolving dynamic, Imran also shares a light-hearted take on how his daughter now sees him. “We’ve reached a phase where I’m uncool in front of her friends; I still shout out ‘I love you’, but I’m not cool enough to hang out with her friends,” he laughs.