Akshay Kumar’s upcoming comedy film Welcome To The Jungle is facing major delays as the shoot has come to a halt due to financial problems. The movie, which was officially announced on Akshay’s 56th birthday in September 2023, began filming in December last year. But since then, not much has moved forward. In fact, the last time the full cast was on set was in August 2023, and since then, the production has been on a long break.
According to media reports, the film is struggling because payments for several actors and their teams are still pending. The delay has affected the shooting schedules. A source close to the project revealed that two to three shooting schedules have been canceled in the last six months. Actors had already given their dates to producer Firoz Nadiadwala, but the plans were called off at the last moment due to financial and logistical problems.
“Many actors and their teams are confused about what’s going on. They keep getting new dates and then those dates are suddenly canceled. It’s been like this for months,” the source said.
A report by a Hindi news outlet claims that Akshay Kumar holds an 80% stake in the film, while producer Firoz Nadiadwala and a few others share the remaining 20%. Despite the ongoing troubles, Nadiadwala has not made any public statements about the situation.
The film features a huge star cast including Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Jacqueline Fernandez, and many others. Directed by Ahmed Khan, Welcome To The Jungle was originally set to release in theatres on December 20, 2024. However, with the shoot now on hold, this release date is looking uncertain.
The insider also shared that the problem goes beyond just the main actors. Even their support teams, such as makeup artists, assistants, and others, have not been paid. This has led to some actors leaving the project altogether.
“There are issues with pending payments not just for the actors but also for their staff. Some of the original cast members have already walked out of the film. However, others are still standing by the project because of their love for the Welcome franchise,” the source added.
The Welcome series has been a hit with audiences in the past, and many actors involved still believe in its success. They are willing to adjust their schedules and wait, hoping the situation improves.
As of now, there is no official word on when the shooting will resume or if the film will release as planned. Fans of the franchise are eager for updates, but the future of Welcome To The Jungle remains unclear.
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