Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, and Paresh Rawal to reunite for Welcome 4 as script enters advanced stages ahead of Welcome to the Jungle release?
Welcome to the Jungle hits June 2026. Firoz Nadiadwallah is prepping Welcome 4 with the original trio to launch a Family Universe connecting Welcome, Hera Pheri, and Awara Paagal Deewana.
Last Updated: 02.15 PM, Mar 08, 2026
It appears like producer Firoz A Nadiadwallah is prepared to give theatres exactly what they want: a hilarious riot. Even though one of the biggest ensemble comedies in recent memory is about to enter theatres, the man responsible for creating the Welcome series is already planning what's next. The theatres will welcome his next film, Welcome to the Jungle (the third installment in the Welcome series), on June 26, 2026.
Why is the production timeline for the fourth installment of Welcome considered significant?
The multi-starrer is nearly complete, with only one song left to film, and the producer has already begun work on the fourth installment. Following lengthy gaps between installments, this development signifies a notable quickening of the franchise's pace. In 2007, the first Welcome premiered, and in 2015, Welcome Back followed.
Presently, post-production on Ahmed Khan's forthcoming feature Welcome to the Jungle is nearing completion. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast of over thirty actors, including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Raveena Tandon, and Lara Dutta. The principal schedule for the production wrapped up not long ago in Mumbai, and now all that remains before the summer release is a massive musical number.
Which fan-favourite characters are set to return in Welcome 4?
As per a report in Mid Day, the focus of the industry, however, has already moved on to the next chapter. The most exciting part is that the fourth edition will see the return of fan favourites Uday Shetty, Majnu Bhai, and Dr. Ghungroo, who have been there since Welcome (2007) and Welcome Back (2015).
Welcome 4 has a script that Nadiadwallah and his writing crew have been working on. A source close to the production said, "It is in the advanced stages now." Paresh Rawal, Anil Kapoor, and Nana Patekar will all be returning for this.
Is the return of the original Welcome trio a strategic move for the producers?
After a short time of suspense about what would happen to these legendary characters, the production company has made a strategic move by bringing back this trio. The return of Kapoor and Patekar in the fourth film is an attempt to appease series regulars, as their absence from the cast of Welcome to the Jungle was noticeable.
Rawal will be appearing in Welcome to the Jungle as well, although "he [will not] play Dr Ghungroo but a different character. The insider informed the tabloid that these three characters would be woven organically into the plot of Welcome 4, adding that the scripting is now underway. Things will turn out very differently in the story.
Are the producers looking for new types of antagonists?
Naseeruddin Shah and the late Feroz Khan portrayed villains in previous iterations, bringing a comic touch to their roles as imposing figures from the underworld. According to the insider, the producers are eager to add new antagonists for the fourth film.
There will be more than one quirky don in Welcome 4 who is renowned for their comic antics and timing rather than their criminal activities. Prominent leading actors are discussing the parts. According to the source, it falls under the category of "family universe," which encompasses comedy, glamour, and action settings.
How does Firoz Nadiadwallah plan to connect his most popular franchises?
Nadiadwallah recently launched a larger plan that includes this "Family Universe" and aims to connect his most popular comedic properties. Incorporating plot points and characters from Welcome, Hera Pheri, and Awara Paagal Deewana, the producer intends to construct a unified cinematic universe. Using the appeal of these classics from the 2000s and adding modern story twists, the goal is to offer clean, big-budget entertainment that anybody can enjoy.
The producer's ambitious new cinematic universe will continue to revolve around the Welcome series, which is laid out for Welcome 4, even though Welcome to the Jungle is expected to take over the box office in June 2026.
Welcome to the Jungle FAQs:
Q: Is Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar in Welcome to the Jungle?
A: No, Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar (Majnu Bhai and Uday Shetty) are not part of the cast for Welcome to the Jungle. However, producer Firoz Nadiadwallah has confirmed that the iconic duo will return to their legendary roles in the subsequent sequel, Welcome 4.
Q: When is the Welcome to the Jungle release date?
A: Welcome to the Jungle, the third installment of the franchise, is scheduled to hit theaters on June 26, 2026. The film is currently in the final stages of post-production with only one musical number left to shoot.
Q: Who is in the cast of Welcome to the Jungle?
A: Welcome to the Jungle features a massive ensemble of over 30 actors, led by Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, and Disha Patani. Interestingly, Paresh Rawal also stars in the film but will play a completely new character rather than his famous Dr. Ghungroo.