Welcome to the Jungle, the third film in the beloved Welcome franchise, has been making headlines, but not always for the right reasons. One of the biggest controversies surrounding the film turned out to be completely false.
A screenshot claiming to be from Nana Patekar’s Instagram Story went viral across platforms like X and Instagram. It claimed that Patekar had sharply mocked the producers for removing him and co-star Anil Kapoor from the project, suggesting that without their iconic characters, Uday Shetty and Majnu Bhai, the film would be nothing. Fans quickly shared this post, and it spread like wildfire.
However, the truth is very different. Nana Patekar maintained a dignified silence and issued no public statement about the viral post or the new movie. The entire controversy was based on a fabricated screenshot.
As for why the original stars are missing, Nana Patekar himself had earlier revealed in an interview with The Lallantop that the makers did approach them, but he and Anil Kapoor ultimately stepped away from the project. Director Ahmed Khan also clarified that the film’s concept was simply different this time, “It wasn’t a film for Uday and Majnu,” he explained.
Akshay Kumar, meanwhile, admitted that the team deeply missed Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor on set, but the script was designed to carry forward their legacy through a different storytelling route.
Welcome to the Jungle, directed by Ahmed Khan and produced by Firoz Nadiadwala, features an enormous ensemble cast of over 30 actors and is set for release on 26 June 2026.
