Cannot imagine 'Welcome 3' without Nana Patekar & Anil Kapoor - 'Welcome' director Anees Bazmee

A few days ago, one of the biggest announcements took place as the humungous ensemble cast of Welcome To The Jungle cast was revealed. As we know, the film is the third instalment in the Welcome franchise but seems to be taking an entirely different turn from the first two films and doesn't seem to have any actors reprising their roles. Even though Akshay Kumar, who was in the first film, is back in the franchise, it doesn't seem to be connected in any manner to any of the first two Welcome films.

While the long list of big names was revealed in the announcement, the story that sparked the maximum amount of conversation was the fact that the heart of the first two Welcome films, Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar, aka Majnoo Bhai and Udy Bhai, respectively, won't be appearing in this third film. This was then confirmed in the announcement video as well.

There has already been an outpouring of flak on the internet where fans have been slamming the decision not to take Kapoor and Patekar in the film. In fact, just yesterday, during the trailer launch of The Vaccine War, Patekar was asked about the same, and he took a dig at the makers, saying that they might feel that because we are old, they didn't want to take us or why they didn't offer us the film. And now, director Anees Bazmee, who directed the first two Welcome films and is also not a part of Welcome To The Jungle, opened up on the same to India Today.

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He said that he is also not a part of it and that he did hear what Nana Ptekar had to say about not being offered Welcome 3. He then mentioned he has no say in the casting, and if the makers have taken a decision, it would be done after careful consideration.

He also added that if he were directing the film, it would not have been possible to make it without Nana and Anil, as both these characters are iconic. Even today, several videos related to them are seen on social media, and he cannot imagine Welcome without them.

Bazmee did mention, though, that he is thrilled about the new casting and the fact that Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi are a part of it.

Welcome To The Jungle has assembled a dream ensemble with a plethora of names and is set for a Christmas 2024 release.

ALSO READ: 'Welcome to the jungle': What made Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar call it quits from the franchise?