Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal have long been celebrated for their exceptional comic timing in Priyadarshan’s iconic films Hera Pheri and Phir Hera Pheri. Their chemistry as Raju, Shyam and Baburao turned the movies into cult favourites. Now, after many years, director Ahmed Khan has managed something no filmmaker has done since Priyadarshan—he brought the legendary trio back together, even before work begins on Hera Pheri 3.
The three actors are part of a massive ensemble in Ahmed Khan’s adventure comedy Welcome To The Jungle, set for a mid-2026 theatrical release. For fans who grew up quoting Baburao’s one-liners or laughing at Raju and Shyam’s arguments, this reunion offers both nostalgia and a fresh dynamic.
Director praises the trio’s effortless comic rhythm
In an interview with Screen, Ahmed Khan spoke about the natural ease with which the three actors slipped back into sync. He said, “I have great relations with Akshay, Suniel and Paresh. I couldn’t believe they were working in my film after Hera Pheri. They have the timing. If Akshay says something, Paresh picks it up, and then Suniel jumps in. There’s an unknown attachment where Baburao, Shyam and Raju just appear in them.”
Ahmed Khan aims to avoid overlap with Hera Pheri
However, the director admitted that their natural chemistry also came with a challenge—ensuring Welcome To The Jungle didn’t start resembling Hera Pheri. He explained, “I know I shouldn’t let too much of Hera Pheri happen. I tell them to snap out of it and get back into the zone of this film.”
While the trio’s instincts often brought flashes of their iconic characters, Ahmed gently guided them back to the world of Welcome To The Jungle.
A massive star-studded ensemble
Beyond the beloved trio, the film boasts one of the biggest ensemble casts in recent years. The lineup includes Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Kiku Sharda, Krushna Abhishek, Daler Mehndi, Mika Singh, Yashpal Sharma, Mukesh Tiwari, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Sharib Hashmi, Inaamulhaq, Jackie Shroff, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Disha Patani and Jacqueline Fernandez.
Managing such a large cast was a challenge, Ahmed said. “We had a minimum of 20 actors in a scene, sometimes up to 34. We would joke that it was a less stressful day if only 15 actors were on set. That’s still the full cast of a regular film. Many times we even forgot that an actor wasn’t supposed to shoot that day.”
Filmmaking challenges in today’s industry
Reflecting on how the filmmaking process has changed over the years, Ahmed said,
“It’s a tough job. Managing every actor’s ego, dates, requirements and dialogues is not easy. Today it’s not just action and cut—there’s PR, egos, and daily issues. Filmmaking isn’t like K. Asif’s era anymore. If you make big demands today, you’ll be told to go home. To survive, you have to support others so they support you.”
With a nostalgic reunion, a massive ensemble and an adventure-comedy setting, Welcome To The Jungle blends familiar charm with new energy—making it one of the most anticipated films of 2026.
More Pages: Welcome To The Jungle Box Office Collection , Welcome To The Jungle Movie Review
BOLLYWOOD NEWS - LIVE UPDATES
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.