Akshay Kumar's highly anticipated comedy film, "Welcome To The Jungle," the third installment in the popular "Welcome" franchise, is reportedly facing significant hurdles due to financial difficulties. According to recent media reports, the film's production has been stalled because of pending payments to the cast and crew. This has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the project's future, despite approximately 70% of the filming already being completed.
The financial issues have reportedly led to the cancellation of multiple shooting schedules over the past several months, leaving the actors and their teams in a state of confusion and uncertainty. The actors, who had allocated their dates to the film, have had these plans disrupted at the last minute due to logistical and financial complications.
A source revealed that none of the cast members have received their promised fees, raising concerns about the film's financial stability. Despite these challenges, many of the original cast members are reportedly still supportive of the project due to their affection for the "Welcome" franchise and are willing to adjust their schedules to complete the film. This highlights the strong bond within the cast and their belief in the potential of the movie.
Adding to the complexity, reports suggest that Akshay Kumar holds a significant 80% stake in the film, while producer Firoz Nadiadwala and others own the remaining 20%. However, Nadiadwala has yet to release a public statement regarding the financial issues.
In light of the payment delays, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) had previously intervened, urging the cast and crew to halt shooting until the outstanding dues from "Welcome Back" were cleared. These dues reportedly amounted to ₹2 crore for technicians. It was reported that Nadiadwala had initially agreed to pay ₹4 crore to the technicians of "Welcome Back" back in 2015, but later negotiated it down to ₹2 crore. However, the payment was halted after the cheque was deposited.
Despite the financial turbulence, director Ahmed Khan clarified that the rumors of the film being shelved were baseless. He confirmed that the next schedule was planned to commence internationally in October, with the technical team already preparing for the location recce.
"Welcome To The Jungle" boasts a massive ensemble cast, including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Aftab Shivdasani, Jackie Shroff, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Disha Patani. With such a large cast, coordinating schedules has been a logistical challenge, further complicating the production process.
The film, directed by Ahmed Khan and produced by Firoz A. Nadiadwallah, was initially slated for release on December 20, 2024, but the release date has been pushed to December 26, 2025, due to pending VFX work and delays in filming.
Despite the numerous challenges, there remains optimism that the financial issues will be resolved and that "Welcome To The Jungle" will eventually make its way to the big screen. The "Welcome" franchise has a strong legacy, and the cast and crew are dedicated to delivering another entertaining installment to its fans.
