Aftab Shivdasani Reflects On Mr India Journey And His Bond With Ahmed Khan During Welcome To The Jungle Trailer Launch

The trailer launch of Welcome To The Jungle in Mumbai turned into a heartfelt nostalgia-filled evening when actor Aftab Shivdasani reflected on his long-standing bond with filmmaker Ahmed Khan. The actor, who is part of the film’s massive ensemble cast, not only spoke about the scale of the project but also revisited their shared beginnings in cinema, drawing a direct line from Mr India to their latest collaboration.

Speaking at the event, Aftab shared an emotional memory that instantly caught attention from the media and fans alike. He said, “It’s a very special film for all of us because it’s hard to believe that the shoot is actually over. I still feel like SAhmed] is going to call and say we have a shoot scheduled for tomorrow or the day after. I mean, regarding this entire cast—I don’t think there has ever been a Hindi film featuring so many people.”

He then opened up about his personal journey with Ahmed Khan, tracing it back to their earliest days in the industry. “And yes, as everyone says—and as my childhood friend Ahmed says—I don’t think this would have been possible without him. I want to add one more thing about Ahmed. We started our careers back in 1985 with the film Mr. India. I don’t know how many of you have seen Mr. India, but since then, he has become an amazing technician and I became an actor. We had worked together as actor and choreographer, but never as actor and director.”

The actor further explained how his emotional connection with Ahmed Khan made this project an easy yes for him, especially given the ensemble nature of the film. “So, when I found out he was directing this film and he called me for it, there was no way I could say no. I’ve worked with everyone in the star cast at some point, and it’s such a pleasure—and of course, this is my fourth film with Akshay Kumar. So, for me, it was an easy decision. Thank you, Ahmed, for having me. Thank you, Akshay Sir, for having me. And to this stellar star cast—I’m going to miss you all. Love you all,” he added.

Welcome To The Jungle marks the third installment in the popular Welcome franchise and is directed by Ahmed Khan, with production by Firoz A. Nadiadwala. The film’s story revolves around a group of self-absorbed actors shooting a fake war film inside a real jungle, only to accidentally encounter real dangerous bandits, leading to a chaotic mix-up of reality and fiction.

The film boasts one of Bollywood’s biggest ensemble casts, featuring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Jackie Shroff, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Johny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Daler Mehndi, Mukesh Tiwari, Yashpal Sharma, Vindu Dara Singh, Urvashi Rautela, and many more.

Scheduled for a theatrical release on June 26, 2026, the film is already being touted as one of the biggest comedy spectacles ever mounted in Bollywood, driven by nostalgia, chaos, and an unprecedented ensemble.

Facebook Comments