'Welcome to the Jungle' to release in mid-2026, confirms director
What's the story
Choreographer-turned-filmmaker Ahmed Khan recently opened up about his upcoming film, Welcome to the Jungle. In an exclusive interview with Pinkvilla, he revealed, "We are almost at the end. By January, it will be wrapped up. We are planning to release the film by next year in the mid." The film features an ensemble cast, including Akshay Kumar, Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, Paresh Rawal, and Raveena Tandon, among others.
Film's genre
Khan described the film as 'dark situational humor'
When asked about the film's genre, Khan said it's "dark situational humor." He added, "It's not a comedy. The producer always says we should not make comedy films." "Firoz Nadiadwala believes in dark humor and situational humor. And of course, it's serious cinema: not a comedy or slapstick."
Cast coordination
Khan's approach to ensemble cast management
Khan acknowledged the challenges of directing a mega-ensemble cast but assured that he was up for it. He said, "I think I can say without any apprehension that Welcome to the Jungle is the only film that has such a huge cast, and all are known actors." "The relationship of Firoz Nadiadwala and mine with everybody else is so good that they managed it for us."
Comedy insights
Khan's thoughts on comedy and its challenges
Khan shared his views on the difficulties of making people laugh without offending anyone in today's world. He said, "Comedy has always been offensive." "Charlie Chaplin also used to do those kinds of comedy, which basically involved hits, falls, and slaps." "You laugh more when someone is poor or in trouble. You laugh more when you are in pain. So, comedy comes out of the pain."
Upcoming ventures
Khan's future projects and collaborations
Khan also spoke about his other film, Baap, which is in the pipeline. He said it's completed and Zee Studios will plan its release. He expressed interest in bringing together actors like Sunny Deol, Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Sanjay Dutt for a "good action film." On rumors of him directing Awara Paagal Deewana 2, he confirmed that it's on the cards, but only after he finishes Welcome to the Jungle.