DISHA JOINS WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE; AKSHAY REMEMBERS KATRINA

Akshay Kumar welcomes Disha Patani to the Welcome franchise, recalling his 2007 pairing with Katrina Kaif in a heartfelt post.

After actor Aftab Shivdasani, Disha Patani has joined the cast of Akshay Kumar’s upcoming comedy-drama Welcome to the Jungle, the third instalment in the popular Welcome franchise. Akshay announced the news on Tuesday through a special video featuring Disha from the film’s sets.

Sharing the clip on Instagram, the actor penned a nostalgic note dedicated to his former co-star Katrina Kaif, who starred alongside him in the original Welcome released in 2007.

“From our hearts to yours! What a throwback — 18 years and still an all-time favourite. With so much nostalgia, the beautiful Disha and I bring you Welcome to the Jungle… never forgetting our Queen Katrina,” Akshay wrote.

In the video, Disha is seen looking radiant in a maroon dress, while Akshay appears dapper in an all-black ensemble. The clip concludes with Akshay looking into the camera and saying, “We miss you, Katrina.”

The Welcome franchise, produced by Firoz Nadiadwala and directed by Anees Bazmee, first hit cinemas in 2007, followed by Welcome Back in 2015. The first film featured Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, while the sequel starred John Abraham and Shruti Haasan alongside veterans Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, and others.

Akshay was last seen in Subhash Kapoor’s Jolly LLB 3, co-starring Arshad Warsi and Amrita Rao, while Disha Patani last appeared in Nag Ashwin’s sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD, which released in June 2024.