Director Ahmed Khan is currently gearing up for the final leg of Welcome to the Jungle, one of the most anticipated movies of the year. Talking about the film, he shares that comedies have a clear edge in today’s struggling box-office climate. The shoot for the star-studded film featuring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Arshad Warsi, and many more began in December 2023. Since then, filming has moved forward in phases, largely due to the challenge of coordinating dates with such a large ensemble cast. Despite the logistical hurdles, Ahmed remains upbeat and focused as the film heads into its final stretch.
With the next leg slated to roll in Kashmir and UAE, the director says, “I’m planning my schedule now because there are so many actors and we have to bring all of them together. They are all so busy. But the good thing is that they all are excited about this movie. We have an international schedule too.”
He also reflected on the recent slump at box office for Bollywood films, “Earlier, one was an art film, another, an action film and then, there were family films. Now, one movie is expected to serve all. We also have to think, ‘Will this work in south India? Then, there is the multiplex audience and single-screen audience. So, we have to keep all these factors in mind. Also, people are saying that films are not doing well. But last year, five films earned Rs 500 crore each. We never dreamt that our industry would make Rs 500 crore! Now, films are expected to make Rs 700 crore to be called a success. When I’m making my film, the fear is definitely there. But we have to survive here. Comedies bring people together. Big cast, big scale, great music and laughter will bring people back to cinemas.”.