As Welcome To The Jungle gears up for release, one of its biggest talking points is the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon, who share screen space for the first time in 22 years. The former co-stars, whose off-screen relationship was among Bollywood’s most discussed romances in the 1990s, have come together thanks to director Ahmed Khan.

Speaking about the casting coup, Khan told mid-day that his decades-long friendship with both actors helped make it possible. “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.”

Was it challenging to bring rumoured ex-lovers back together for a film? The filmmaker took up the task as a “fan service.” He said, “People will want to see Raveena and Akshay together, so why not do fan service?”. He added that Akshay in fact encouraged him to cast whoever suited the role best.

According to Khan, Raveena had no reservations when she learnt Akshay was already part of the project. “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.

While Kumar and Tandon are not paired romantically in Welcome To The Jungle, they share several scenes and a song choreographed by Rahul Shetty and Prince Gupta. The reunion is particularly nostalgic given that the duo delivered some of Hindi cinema’s most enduring hits, including Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast and Tip Tip Barsa Paani from Mohra (1994).

Recalling the shoot, Khan revealed, “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’.”

Ahmed Khan says, “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”

Filmmaker- choreographer Ahmed Khan is all set to launch his son Azaan as a hero after the release of his upcoming directorial Welcome To The Jungle, featuring Akshay Kumar and a star-studded ensemble cast.

Interestingly, Ahmed and Azaan share the same birthday, which they celebrate today. “Even if I don’t remember my own birthday, I have to remember it because of Azaan. He is the best gift my wife could have given me,” Ahmed says with a smile.

Speaking about the launch, he says, “Yes, the film goes on the floors after the release of Welcome To The Jungle. He’s a choreographer’s son, so of course, there will be expectations about how he performs. I give him a good rank 7/10 when it comes to dance, but he’s even better when it comes to action.” He adds, “Haseen ladka hai, he just has to cut through.”

Ahmed says the nervousness is less on him and more on Azaan. “I don’t behave like his father, but his director now. I don’t go around saying ‘Mera beta superstar.’ Either the audience will like him, or he has to keep trying. Filmmakers like Raj Kapoor and Rakesh Roshan found the perfect balance between being a father and filmmaker, which is important to find.”

Speaking about trolls and preparing his son to be thick-skinned, he adds, “Once you have selected this profession, there will be people jealous of your position; you have to deal with it. Everyone has a job, and so do trolls; trolling is their job. I’m not on social media, I’m a zen person.”

The ripple effects of the West Asia conflict can be felt the world over, including in the Hindi film industry. On March 30, mid-day reported that the Dubai schedule of Shah Rukh Khan’s King had to scrapped (When war affects the King’s strategy, Mar 30). Now, the latest film to call off its Dubai shoot is the Akshay Kumar-starrer Welcome To The Jungle. Director Ahmed Khan was to take his ensemble comedy to the emirate for a song shoot, but is now reimagining it in Mumbai.

Postponing the track’s filming was out of the question as it includes the entire primary cast — Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Raveena Tandon, Jackie Shroff, Paresh Rawal, Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Shreyas Talpade, and many others — and getting their combination dates a second time over would have been difficult. So, the director did the next best thing. 

A source revealed, “Elaborate sets will be put up in Madh Island, Golden Tobacco Studio, and Film City in Goregaon. Created by production designer Sailesh Mahadik, the sets will depict night clubs, casinos, and private jets. Ahmed and producer Firoz A Nadiadwallah essentially imagined it as a glamorous song that shows how the rich live the good life. That’s why Dubai would have been the perfect location. The unit waited for a month for things to settle down there, but when they didn’t, they shifted the location.”

Khan will begin the song shoot on April 15. Confirming the location shift, the director told mid-day, “We will now shoot the song in Mumbai. It’s a glamorous song with the entire cast.”

Reports have been rife that producer Firoz Nadiadwala is set to kickstart the fourth installment of the popular comedy franchise Welcome, even before it's threequel Welcome To The Jungle releases in the theatres.

Speaking to us, Nadiadwala confirmed that Welcome 4 is indeed in the works. "We are in the advanced stages of scripting and we will let you know earliest," he confirms to Bombay Times, and adds, "However, I can say that the music and action that we are planning is going to be massive. We have thought of multi-cultural music with heads coming together from across continents like the Middle East, Africa, USA, and China. The coming together of Uday bhai, Majnu Bhai, Dr. Ghungroo and more than one dons (there will be more than one antagonist) is probably going to be like 10 on the Richter scale. We are working towards locking them. Keeping the actors in mind, we are scripting and writing the scenes accordingly."

The original Welcome, directed by Anees Bazmee, starred Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar. Its sequel Welcome Back, also directed by Bazmee, saw Rawal, Kapoor and Patekar reprise their roles. For the third installment, Welcome To The Jungle, directed by Ahmed Khan, Kumar has rejoined the franchise alongside the returning cast. It remains unclear whether he will headline the fourth film.

The upcoming third film boasts a massive ensemble cast. Over the past few months, multiple reports have arrived about the movie getting delayed. Addressing these rumours for the first time, Nadiadwala says, "They were rumours for a reason. That's the difference between a fact and a rumor."

He adds, "I would like to say the movie is complete and the entire credit goes to the team which is headed by Mr. Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Arshad Warsi and Suniel Shetty and Mr. Ahmed Khan. They are the one along with the entire cast and crew who made it happen. It's not a small thing both in terms of planning it on a creative aspect, budgetary, expect logistical aspect and then finally to carry it all out. It is not an easy task to shoot with several army helicopters and hundreds of horses. For one of the songs we shot in Dubai, we used multi high end cars which cost at around 400 crores. But the movie is finished now, and is releasing on June 26th."

Director Ahmed Khan has brought Welcome To The Jungle to the finish line. Well, almost. All that’s left is the shoot of an elaborate song featuring the ensemble cast, including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Jackie Shroff, and Arshad Warsi. We’ve heard that Khan called action on the song earlier this week, and intends to conclude the shoot in 10 days.

Sources close to the unit describe it as a high-energy celebratory number. An expansive set depicting a jungle has been built at Bahubali Studios in Borivali for the track, choreographed by Adil Shaikh.

“Shooting a song with so many stars isn’t easy. Every actor has their moment in the song. Before beginning filming on February 17, extensive rehearsals were conducted so that principal actors and background dancers move seamlessly through the frame without disrupting camera continuity. It will be used as a post-credit track,” revealed a source.

After this leg, Welcome To The Jungle will move to post-production.

Mumbai is hardly the place one associates with jungles. But trust director Ahmed Khan to turn parts of the city into dense forests for Welcome To The Jungle. mid-day has learnt that on December 5, the director began shooting the climax that will play out across five venues — Film City, Royal Palms, Borivali, and two locations in Aarey Colony. The production team, led by Shailesh Mahadik, has built sets depicting wilderness.

The original plan was to film the climax of the ensemble comedy — starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Raveena Tandon, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, Paresh Rawal, Tusshar Kapoor, and others — in the forests of Uttar Pradesh.

A source revealed, “But the biting cold was a deterrent. Plus, the production team realised it’d be logistically impractical to shoot in the forests with a 34-member cast and 500-strong unit. Given the kind of stunts involved, Ahmed and producer Firoz A Nadiadwala decided to relocate the shoot to Mumbai.”

After this leg is complete, the director will travel to North India to capture wide shots in the jungles. Khan told mid-day, “It’s wonderful that we’re shooting the climax now. Getting so many actors together was the only challenge, but once on sets, it’s a party.”

After shooting across the UAE, Welcome To The Jungle has returned to India for its finishing touches — the final 20-day schedule of the ensemble comedy. In 2023, Akshay Kumar launched the franchise with a musical teaser before filming pivotal scenes in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al-Khaimah. Now, director Ahmed Khan’s venture is wrapping up its Mumbai schedule, which began on November 6.

“A few setbacks have happened, but the shooting has always been on track,” shares a source from the unit. “Ahmed shot two romantic songs in Dubai with Akshay and Disha [Patani] at the end of October. He returned on November 5 and resumed shooting the next day. Ahmed and producer Firoz A Nadiadwala are leaving no stone unturned to make the film look grand and larger-than-life with its 34-member star cast,” the source adds.

To shoot the scenes, Khan wanted specific plants and trees in the frame to enhance the film’s aesthetic. The source reveals that production designer Shailesh Mahadik created an expansive jungle in Film City, Goregaon, where “action and comic scenes are being shot. The area is so big that actors and units are using choppers to travel from one area to another.”

The director confirms, “Post [the shoot in Mumbai], we will head for a 20-day climax schedule featuring all the actors together followed by a song sequence.”

Khan is scouting for forest areas in North India for the last leg of the shoot, where action master Abbas Mogul will choreograph the sequences, including “chase sequences, gun fights, blasts, and a sequence with 300 horses in the climax.” Source adds, “The last schedule will begin from the first week of December, after which an introduction song with the entire cast will be shot in Dubai.”

Dec 2023 - Filming began.

Early 2024 - Delays due to scheduling conflicts.

August 2024 - Set of a Kashmir town was destroyed due to heavy rains and had to be rebuilt.

Mid-June 2025 - Kashmir schedule deferred due to unrest following the Pahalgam attack.

October 2025 - Production activity resumed in phases.

Missing the testosterone-driven Hindi films of the 1990s? Ahmed Khan’s got you covered. His production Baap — which brings together the biggest action heroes of the 1980s and ’90s, Sunny Deol, Sanjay Dutt, Mithun Chakraborty, and Jackie Shroff — is finally complete and readying for a 2026 release. mid-day has learnt that the action drama, which went on floors in June 2022, was recently wrapped up with the completion of two songs.

Directed by Vivek Chauhan, Baap’s talkie portions were completed in April this year. Next on the plan were two songs — a peppy number featuring the four actors, and another track celebrating the protagonists’ camaraderie. Both songs have been choreographed by Khan.

A source revealed, “Earlier, the brotherhood song was to be shot on a set depicting an under-construction building, as the four actors play labourers working at a construction site. But the makers did a rethink and it was filmed earlier this year in the jungles of Mizoram, followed by a portion on a set constructed in Film City. It has been treated like Chappa Chappa Charkha Chale in Maachis [1996]. The peppy track will be used as a background number when the four actors appear together, and will enhance the mood.”

Now, the makers are focusing on the post-production and VFX. The source added, “It’s a VFX-heavy movie. All actors have begun dubbing, and the film should be ready by the year-end, after which producers Zee Studios and Ahmed will decide the release date.”

The film is said to be designed as an action extravaganza, complete with helicopter chase sequences, explosions, and hand-to-hand combat choreographed by action directors Parvez Shaikh and Ravi Varma.

For Khan, who is currently supervising the post-production process, it has been a matter of pride and joy to back Baap.

When mid-day reached out to him, the elated producer said, “The shooting of Baap is complete and right now, it’s in the final stages of post-production. It’s any producer’s dream to get these superstars together for one frame, and we have them in a full movie!”

There is no single path to success in the film industry. Some use connections, others rely on luck and hard work, while a few gain experience in filmmaking before facing the camera. As the nepotism debate continues, director-choreographer Ahmed Khan’s son, Azaan (23), is preparing for his acting debut in a yet-untitled revenge drama, which begins filming in November in a start-to-finish schedule.

While Ahmed is busy directing Welcome To The Jungle, he’s also focused on finding the right launch vehicle for Azaan. The actor has worked behind the scenes before stepping into the spotlight. “Aamir [Khan] learned direction as he was filmmaker Tahir Hussain’s son, writer Salim Khan’s son Salman [Khan] was an assistant director before becoming an actor. They all learnt filmmaking before becoming actors to reach where they are now,” says Ahmed.

Azaan started as a technician, learning the ropes of direction, production, choreography, and martial arts. “Azaan has grown up watching filmmaking at home. When he was 15 years old, he shot and featured in his own song. One day, he told me that he had learned all [about filmmaking] and now wanted to try his hand at acting,” Ahmed shares.

On sets, Azaan would stand in for actors, reciting dialogues and expressions under the DoP’s guidance between shots. “Only a technician’s son can understand the importance of this. He doesn’t wish to debut as a typical, chocolate-boy or dancing hero but as something completely unconventional,” Ahmed confirms.

Being a director, one would assume that Ahmed Khan will direct his son’s launch vehicle. However, he says that he “will direct Azaan Khan’s second film”. “It is a challenge to make a film on a technician’s son who is from the film industry but I know Azaan will make me proud,” he says.

One can sense Ahmed Khan’s enthusiasm as he readies for the next schedule of Welcome To The Jungle. The director kicked off the ensemble comedy—starring Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, and Arshad Warsi, among others—in December 2023. It has been an intermittent shoot since then as securing combination dates of such a vast ensemble hasn’t been easy.

With the next leg slated to roll in Kashmir, the director says, “I’m planning my schedule now because there are so many actors and we have to bring all of them together. They are all so busy. But the good thing is that they all are excited about this movie. We have an international schedule too.”

The Hindi film industry is going through a slump, where big-ticket movies are unable to create box-office magic. Does the fear play on his mind?

Khan reflects, “Earlier, one was an art film, another, an action film and then, there were family films. Now, one movie [is expected to serve] all. We also have to think, ‘Will this work in south India?’ Then, there is the multiplex audience and single-screen audience. So, we have to keep all these factors in mind. Also, people are saying that films are not doing well. But last year, five films earned Rs 500 crore each. We never dreamt that our industry would make Rs. 500 crore! Now, films are expected to make Rs 700 crore [to be called a success]. When I’m making my film, the fear is definitely there. But we have to survive here.”

In this uncertain market, Khan believes Welcome To The Jungle might have an advantage. “Comedies bring people together. Big cast, big scale, great music and laughter will bring people back to cinemas,” he states.

Choreographer turned director Ahmed Khan entered the film industry as a child actor in 1986 with Mr India. The next year will mark his four decades in cinema, a time that saw his evolution from actor to directing action movies (Baaghi 2, Baaghi 3, Heropanti 2) and now comedy with Welcome To The Jungle (WTTJ), the franchise’s third instalment. In a candid chat with BT, Ahmed revealed why commercial cinema is here to stay, Welcome sequel’s casting changes and why he has no intention of sticking to making sequels only.

Sanjay Dutt’s last-minute exit from WTTJ sparked curiosity. The director revealed, “When I started the film, everyone had this fear, kaisay hoga. Casting changes happen in all films whether big or small. It can happen just 15 days prior to shooting. Sanjay Dutt had a good role but dates sabke manage karnay mein issue ho gaya tha. We are like a close-knit family, so we understood each other. He just shot for a day before exiting the project. I can’t tell you if he was replaced or we created a new character because it will trigger this whole talk about isko liya tha pehle, usko liya tha pehle. Aap dekhogay toh aapko yeh pata nahi chalega that who was cast as whom before.”

It was speculated the film was delayed due to its casting and financial hiccups. “I would not like to comment much but we started the film in March last year 2024. Itni badi film will need a year so there’s no delay as such. Half the industry was working with me. The film has Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, Raveena Tandon, Aftab Shivdasani, Lara Dutta and Shreyas Talpade. I cancelled other actors' dates for Shreyas, when he faced an untimely health scare. We waited and shot with him. Every actor stood by Shreyas and said they will change their dates for him. He is a strong guy.”

Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor as Uday and Majnu were iconic characters of Welcome and their omission too felt strange. Ahmed clarified, “I tried to change the vibe of the third instalment. We wanted a totally new look because the audience has changed, humour has changed. They may be back in welcome 4 but it wasn’t necessary for us to recreate the same casting now.”

The filmmaker feels that while commercial films are looked upon as run-of-the-mill, it’s a challenge to make them.

He explains, "Commercial films are toughest to make because everything needs to look good. Be it the hero, heroine, costumes, songs, high octane action or location. The reach is more so the backlash is more as well. You must do it unapologetically. You have to meet expectations of people who want it to be larger than life and yet believable. Bimari pay ek film banalo. Serious hai, background music kam hai, action nahi hai, gaane nahi hai, hospital hai, ghar hai, bimari hai, pareshani hai, dawai hai. People don’t care if it’s not looking good visually. Content driven film may have 50 people on set, we have 500. A lot of effort goes into managing that sort of crew. Commercial Hindi films will never go out of style. Women want a man to give them flowers, be gentle, shower attention, lock eyes with. SRK gives you that."

Looking back at his four decades in cinema, he says, “I started off as a child actor in 1986. I was a choreographer for 25 years of my life! Imagine jumping from choreography to directing action movies and action to directing comedy. I have seen the evolution of cinema. Today’s actors are so well trained. Pehle dhundna padta tha actors ki body hai ki nahi, dance aata kay ahi, now look at today’s boys. They can be compared to international actors and models. The competition is now Timothee Chalamet when it comes to talent and Chris Hemsworth when it comes to physique. Alia Bhatt worked with Gal Gadot and they don’t even make noise about it. 90’s mein main bhi battameez tha. I used to feel it’s okay to be arrogant if you are in the film industry. Today, the youngsters address makeup dada as sir, Tiger Shroff addresses a spot boy as sir.”

The director we hear will launch his son Azaan as an actor soon. Ahmed revealed, “He is a charming 23-year-old. He wants me to launch him like Rakesh ji did for Hrithik. I am very objective that way. I will never say, mera beta superstar banega and he will never say my daddy is the strongest. He knows I am not tall, and I tell him he’s not light-eyed like Hrithik. We are very honest that way, we roast each other. My son knows I am quite critical. He knows he will only succeed if he has it in him.”

Over the past many months, Ahmed Khan has been neck-deep in the shoot of his directorial venture, Welcome To The Jungle. But when producer Sajid Nadiadwala reached out to him to choreograph Sikandar’s title track, he promptly said yes. Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna’s dance number Sikandar Naache, which dropped online on Tuesday, marks Ahmed’s return to choreography after eight years.

“I’d do anything for them,” he smiles, emphasizing his long-standing collaboration with the superstar-producer duo.

With Salman’s films, one can be assured of hit songs and hook steps that will be imitated by his legion of fans. So, as a choreographer, how did he make sure that the latest number stands out?

Ahmed explains, “We wait for a Salman track because of the swag. He comes up with moves that even a grandfather can do, and sometimes he pulls off moves that even youngsters can’t match up. But whatever I’ve done with him, it has been a pleasure; when you have such a good-looking man in front of the camera, half the job is done. When you show him [a step], sometimes he doesn’t do it exactly how you want, but he does it in his own style and eventually you see your creation take shape.” 

The choreographer’s last hit number with Salman was Jumme Ki Raat from Kick (2014). With Sikandar Naache, the idea was to top it. “Or we had to, at least, try to reach that space,” says Ahmed.

That’s when Nadiadwala suggested incorporating the Levantine folk dance, Dabke, in the track. Excited by the suggestion, Ahmed went ahead to design the number that was shot with about 500 dancers at a massive set in a Mumbai studio last month.

The choreographer adds, “Sajid suggested that we add the Dabke dance style. This has never happened in Hindi movies so far. He went out of his way to fly down Lebanese dancers from Turkey, who could perform Dabke. I loved that we made that addition. Salman has danced his heart out in this song.”

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It was recently reported that the third part of the Welcome franchise, Welcome To The Jungle, led by actor Akshay Kumar, has been shelved. However, putting the rumours to rest, the makers have issued a statement confirming that the film is on track and the team would be heading for a marathon shoot schedule soon.

The makers dropped a picture of the cast from the sets of the film on social media. Director Ahmed Khan said, “There is no truth to these rumours. The film is on track and we are kick-starting our next leg of the shoot schedule internationally from October. My technical team has already left for the first recce.” Reportedly, 70% of the shoot has already been finished.

The movie features an ensemble cast, including actors Raveena Tandon, Suniel Shetty, Disha Patani, Aftab Shivdasani, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Arshad Warsi and Tusshar Kapoor.

Shooting in the monsoons can be a gamble, and Welcome To The Jungle director Ahmed Khan got dealt a rough hand. Earlier this week, a huge set, constructed at the Golden Tobacco studio in Vile Parle, was damaged by the torrential rains (Blame it on the rain, August 5). Five days on, the set has been rebuilt, and the director is ready to call action again on the Akshay Kumar-led comedy today.

The ensemble cast—including Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Disha Patani and others—was to originally kick off the schedule on August 4. For the stint, production designer Shailesh Mahadik had built an elaborate set depicting a Kashmiri town.

A source reveals, “This set was first built in March, over 10 acres of land. It was so vast that actors had to travel in golf carts from their vanity vans. While it was dismantled after the shoot, the makers later needed a portion of the set-up again for some scenes. So, a part was rebuilt in late July. But days before the August 4 shoot, the set was damaged by the Mumbai downpour.”

Mahadik’s team took the blow in their stride, and as soon as the rains abated, began creating the world a third time over. “They had to re-create a house situated in the centre of the set. Now, the actors are set to return to the location.” 

When mid-day reached out to Khan, he said that such mishaps are not uncommon. “We’re managing our actors’ dates, and will shoot with those available [today]. Thanks to our producer Firoz bhai [Nadiadwallah], construction is going on and we are ready to resume work. The redesigned set is bigger.”

While singer Daler Mehndi gears up to make his acting debut in the Akshay Kumar-starrer Welcome to the Jungle, he reveals that this is not the first time he has been offered an acting role.

“I was offered a role back in 1998 in the Kajol-starrer Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi (2001),” says the singer, adding, “I remember meri baat hui thi [with the producers] and I asked them for more money than the hero of the film. After a meeting for about 15-20 minutes, I finally decided that I didn’t want to do the movie. All my friends said it’s a huge production and a great movie, but I responded, ‘Mera abhi singing ka kaam hai, main ussi par focus kar leta hoon; Abhi itna time pada hai, filmein toh hoti rahengi’.”

It has been over two decades since Mehndi has been writing and singing songs, and he admits that he “never felt the need” to transition into acting.

“I didn’t want to spend my own money to make a movie. But I always thought if any producer or director felt I’m needed or had the talent to play a particular character, they would call me. Now I feel ki ab time hai, gaane main jhande gaaad diye, ab acting mai gaaadne hain. If god wants, I’ll excel in acting as well,” shares the 56-year-old singer.

Mehndi, who has already shot some of his parts for Welcome To The Jungle, feels grateful to filmmaker Ahmed Khan for considering him for a role in the film. He shares how he is looking forward to being a part of an ensemble cast that includes actors Arshad Warsi, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Suniel Shetty among others.

Talking about how the role came about, he says, “He called me and said, ‘Paaji, maine ek jagah aapki haan kardi hai, na mat kijiyega’. He is my brother and an amazing human being, [so] I just couldn’t say no. I’m glad that he thought I could do a role in his film.”

He continues, “Everyone has been treating me with such love and respect. While filming, we keep laughing all the time on set, and I can’t imagine how much the audience will enjoy it. Akshay [Kumar] paaji itna hasaate hain, bahut maza aa raha hai.”

For most, balancing his acting career with music might seem like a challenging task, but Mehndi isn’t perturbed. “Technically, I started acting in my song Na Na Na Re (1997), so I don’t think it’s that difficult for me or I’ll have to work hard on it separately. I feel I have it in me,” he shares and adds, “Baaki bhagwaan ne chaaha toh aur acting projects bhi aayenge, I am willing to grow more in this arena. I am also hoping to balance both acting and music in the future.”

Whoever thought pulling off a shoot with an ensemble cast can be a logistical nightmare, can do a rethink. After two major schedules in Mumbai, director Ahmed Khan is briskly moving on to the penultimate schedule of Welcome To The Jungle, which features Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Jackie Shroff, Lara Dutta, Disha Patani, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Arshad Warsi and Tusshar Kapoor. We hear the principal cast of 34 actors will head to Kashmir next month for a four-week schedule.

Apparently, there will be a few days of shoot in Mumbai, after which the director will fly out to the Valley for an action-packed schedule in mid-July.

A source reveals, “Action set-pieces have been specially designed against the backdrops of glaciers and forests of Kashmir. There are dense deciduous and coniferous forests between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal ranges, and Ahmed has roped in different action directors to choreograph distinct sequences in each setting. Aerial action sequences will also be shot against the glaciers in Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg.”

After the schedule is wrapped up in the third week of August, the cast and crew will fly out to an international location for the final leg.

“The destination will most likely be the United Kingdom or the UAE. A couple of songs with the entire cast will be filmed in the chosen location in September.”

The comedy, produced by Firoz A Nadiadwallah, is slated for a Christmas 2024 release.

Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi recently began the Mumbai leg of Jolly LLB 3. The superstar will complete most portions of the courtroom comedy, which also features Huma Qureshi, during this stint. But there is no breather in sight for him. Sources indicate Kumar will shoot the third instalment of the Jolly LLB franchise throughout June, only to be beckoned by the third edition of another franchise—Welcome.

In July, the actor will return to the set of Welcome To The Jungle. A source reveals, “Most of the indoor portions will be filmed in this schedule. Director Ahmed Khan has lined up 30 days of shoot, after which it will be a wrap on the comedy. The team has been instructed to be ready to resume shooting in early July.” 

Welcome To The Jungle has an ensemble cast that includes Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Jackie Shroff, Lara Dutta, Disha Patani, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Tusshar Kapoor and Warsi. The source adds, “A song shoot is lined up for this leg. Akshay will also be busy with Sarfira promotions, which he will juggle with the shoot.”

When you have an ensemble cast of 17 performing together, it can result in either chaos or fun. Shreyas Talpade, who is a part of Welcome To The Jungle, says it’s equal amount of both on their set. The third instalment of the Welcome franchise stars Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Arshad Warsi, Lara Dutta, Disha Patani, Paresh Rawal, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Tusshar Kapoor and Krushna Abhishek, among others. How do you ensure a smooth shoot with so many ideas and suggestions flying around? Talpade credits director Ahmed Khan for it.

“All of us get ready in the morning, and ask Ahmed what we are doing that day. He reads out the entire scene, then everybody improvises. Ahmed listens to everyone and says, ‘This is good, remember to do this later.’ But eventually, he does what he wants,” says the actor.

“When 17-18 of us are performing, we wonder whether [the scene is landing]. But the sequences turn out hilarious because Ahmed knows what he is doing. We have surrendered ourselves to him.”

After joining the comic caper last December, Talpade had suffered a near-fatal heart attack. Following the health scare, the actor feels grateful for the love his collaborators shower on him during the shoot. He shares, “Akki bhai and Ahmed are always checking on me. Disha would greet me with a tight hug; she treats me like an elder brother. They all are sweet. Even today, wherever I go, the first thing I am asked is, ‘How is your health? Are you doing good?’”

North meets south in the latest release of Game Changer as Punjabi music veteran Daler Mehndi renders a track for actor Ram Charan. Jaragandi, which translates to ‘let it happen’, is set against Punjabi beats, even as it boasts a south Indian flavour.

“The song was the vision of the music composer Thaman [S], with whom my last song, Banti Poola Janki, was created. He said he had a number that required my voice. I have sung both the Telugu and Hindi versions of this song. At the time of dubbing this number, I did not know who I was singing for, or even the film’s plot. I simply enjoyed the energetic composition, as I love Thaman’s work,” says Mehndi.

The singer believes that the track, also featuring Kiara Advani alongside Charan, appropriately blends its arresting visuals with the “vibrant composition”. “When I see [my voice being] featured on the Oscar-winning actor Ram Charan, my happiness knows no bounds,” he says of Charan, who starred in RRR (2022) that bagged an Academy Award in the music category. 

Ask him if the boundaries between the music industries of the north and south are fading, and he says, “Music is universal and is not bound by language, cultures, faith, or physical boundaries. In time, every song gets its due audience. The cultural blend, in my musical journey, happened in 1995, and I want to thank myself, Daler Mehndi, for this amalgamation. Bolo Ta Ra Ra seeped into every nook and corner of the country—north, south, east, and west. In fact, in Kerala alone, it sold two lakh units on its release. I am honoured to have my music break these boundaries.”

It is during his dubbing session for the title track of an upcoming Punjabi film that Mehndi responds to our questions. With a slate of projects in his kitty, he says he has his eyes pinned on his acting stint in Welcome To The Jungle.

“I am thoroughly enjoying my debut in acting for Ahmed Khan and Feroz Nadiadwala’s film. This is new to me, and I am making the most of each day on the shooting sets. In April, I begin my concerts. Soon after, I will announce my new EP,” he signs off.

There is no such thing as too many stars. At least for Akshay Kumar and director Ahmed Khan. Last September, the superstar announced Welcome To The Jungle that has a stellar ensemble cast including him, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Lara Dutta, Shreyas Talpade and many more. While the comedy went on floors last December, the director kicked off the second schedule in Mumbai on Tuesday. 

The ongoing leg is particularly ambitious as it brings together the entire cast at Club Millennium in Juhu. 

A source reveals, “The cast will shoot at various locations over the next two days, including Empire Studio in Andheri. The major work, however, will begin on March 15. The director has lined up an extensive schedule at Royal Palms in Goregaon, where over 20 actors of the principal cast will do their combination scenes. On days that the actors have their individual scenes, is setting up parallel sequences so that nobody’s time is wasted.”

The third instalment in the Welcome franchise is slated for a December release.