Akshay Kumar reveals a rugged new look with long white hair; film set for a grand theatrical release on December 25, 2026.
December 25, 2025: On the festive morning of Thursday, December 25, 2025, Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar officially announced the production wrap of his upcoming action-comedy, Welcome to the Jungle.
Describing it as one of the “biggest projects” of his career, the actor shared a high-octane teaser featuring a massive ensemble cast as a “Christmas gift” to his fans.
The Grand Reveal: Teaser Highlights
The 31-second teaser, set to a reimagined “Jingle Bells” tune blended with the iconic Welcome theme, offers a glimpse into the film’s scale:
The Look: Akshay Kumar debuted a transformed avatar, sporting a rugged look with long white hair and a matching beard. Reports suggest he may be playing a double role, leading two separate teams in the film.
The Visuals: The teaser features the massive cast walking in unison, armed with weapons and dressed in protective tactical gear, hinting at a “jungle” setting filled with both comedy and high-stakes action.
Akshay’s Note: “Never have I ever been part of something so big… none of us have,” the actor wrote on Instagram, thanking the “giant family” behind the film for their effort.
A Star-Studded “Jungle”
Directed by Ahmed Khan, the film boasts one of the largest ensembles in modern Indian cinema, reuniting several iconic pairs.
| The Leads | The Comedy Legends | The Support |
| Akshay Kumar | Paresh Rawal | Johnny Lever |
| Raveena Tandon | Suniel Shetty | Rajpal Yadav |
| Jacqueline Fernandez | Arshad Warsi | Tusshar Kapoor |
| Disha Patani | Sanjay Dutt | Shreyas Talpade |
| Lara Dutta | Aftab Shivdasani | Kiku Sharda |
- Nostalgia Factor: The film marks a major reunion for the Hera Pheri trio (Akshay, Suniel, Paresh) and features the long-awaited pairing of Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon after nearly two decades.
- Musical Duo: Singer-brothers Daler Mehndi and Mika Singh are also part of the cast, adding a unique musical flair to the acting lineup.
Franchise History & Release
Welcome to the Jungle serves as the third chapter of the franchise produced by Firoz A. Nadiadwala.
- Welcome (2007): A cult classic starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif.
- Welcome Back (2015): Featured John Abraham and Shruti Haasan.
- Welcome to the Jungle (2026): Returns to Akshay Kumar as the lead, shifting the franchise into a larger-than-life action-comedy space.
Release Date: The film is officially slated for December 25, 2026, aiming for a massive Christmas weekend opening.