Suniel Shetty backs multi-starrers, calls Welcome To The Jungle a film of ‘25-30 dhurandhar actors’

Suniel Shetty has shared his experience of working on Welcome To The Jungle, a film that brings together one of the biggest ensemble casts seen in a Bollywood comedy. Directed by Ahmed Khan, the upcoming film is the third instalment in the popular Welcome franchise and features a long list of actors from across generations.

The film stars Akshay Kumar, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Jackie Shroff, Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Johny Lever, Shreyas Talpade, Rajpal Yadav and several others. With so many performers sharing screen space, Shetty admitted that the biggest challenge was not the action sequences but maintaining composure during scenes.

Speaking to ANI, the actor said, “It is an action, comedy, fun film. But the problem here was not of action. Problem yeh tha ki aese mahaul mein straight face kaise rakhe. Kyunki co-artist jab koi punch line maarta hans deter the shot kat jata tha.”

According to Shetty, the atmosphere on set was filled with humour, making it difficult for actors to get through scenes without laughing. He suggested that the constant exchange of comic punchlines often led to interrupted takes and repeated shots.

The actor also spoke about the significance of having such a large cast in a single project. He believes the appeal of the film comes from the collective presence of several established performers rather than any one individual carrying the story.

“This film is not about one person. Yeh 25-30 dhurandhar actors ki film hai. That's where the charm is, that's where the hype comes from. Everyone has their own fan base and followers, and together we will take this film forward,” he said.

Shetty further addressed the discussion around multi starrer films and the competitive environment within the industry. He noted that younger actors sometimes become concerned about sharing screen space but argued that collaboration ultimately benefits a film.

“Today's youngsters often become insecure when it's a two-hero or multi-hero film. But your security lies in doing such films and entertaining audiences together. When you perform alongside a fellow actor and support each other, the film works. Failure should be the biggest insecurity for an actor. Success can never be insecure.”

Welcome To The Jungle is scheduled to release in cinemas on June 26.