‘Welcome to the Jungle’: Akshay Kumar Announces RELEASE DATE

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.

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Franchise History & Release

Welcome to the Jungle serves as the third chapter of the franchise produced by Firoz A. Nadiadwala.

1. Welcome (2007): A cult classic starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif.
2. Welcome Back (2015): Featured John Abraham and Shruti Haasan.
3. 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.

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