Akshay Kumar and Ahmed Khan Reunite After 19 Years For ‘Welcome To The Jungle’; Duo Recreate Iconic Franchise Music

Akshay Kumar and director-choreographer Ahmed Khan have come full circle with Welcome To The Jungle. Nearly two decades after collaborating on the original Welcome title track, the actor and filmmaker have reunited for the latest instalment of the popular comedy franchise.

Ahmed Khan has an interesting association with the franchise since 2007’s blockbuster Welcome where he choreographed the memorable title track featuring Akshay Kumar. Nineteen years later, Khan has returned to the franchise as director, with Welcome To The Jungle marking his first collaboration with Akshay in that capacity.

The reunion has also extended to the film’s iconic music. As part of the franchise’s nostalgia-driven campaign, the makers have revived some of the most iconic musical elements associated with Welcome, including the much-loved title track and the chartbuster Ucha Lamba Kad.

Sources close to the production reveal that both Akshay and Ahmed, along with the producers, want to preserve the spirit of the original songs while presenting them to a new generation of audiences.

“There’s a lot of nostalgia attached to the Welcome franchise, especially its music. Ahmed was involved with the original film’s title track, so revisiting that legacy nearly two decades later was a special moment for the team. The idea was to retain the recall value while giving the songs a fresh scale and presentation suited to Welcome To The Jungle,” says a source.

The recently released “Ucha Lamba Kad Forever,” featuring Akshay Kumar and Disha Patani, has already generated great buzz among fans, many of whom associate the original track with the actor’s pairing alongside Katrina Kaif in the 2007 film. The decision to give Katrina a hat tip has won hearts from the fans of the film. Industry observers believe the musical callbacks are a key part of the film’s marketing strategy, helping bridge the gap between audiences who grew up with Welcome and younger viewers discovering the franchise for the first time.

With its brilliant mix of nostalgia, music and franchise familiarity, Welcome To The Jungle is positioning itself as a celebration of the Welcome brand, while marking a happy reunion between Akshay Kumar and Ahmed Khan nearly 19 years after their first association with the series.

The film brings together a formidable ensemble including, Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Jackie Shroff, Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Farida Jalal, Johny Lever, Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor, Rajpal Yadav, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Daler Mehndi, Aftab Shivdasani, Mukesh Tiwari, Yashpal Sharma, Kiran Kumar, Zakir Hussain, Vindu Dara Singh, Urvashi Rautela, Hemant Pandey, Brijendra Kala, Feroze Khan (Arjun), Late Pankaj Dheer ji, Puneet Issar, Sudesh Berry, Jeetu Verma, Vrihi Kodvara, Adityaa Singgh, and Bhagya Bhanushali.

An Ahmed Khan entertainer, Welcome To The Jungle is presented by A.A. Nadiadwala, Cape of Good Films and Star Studio18 in association with Seeta Films and Rakesh Dang. The film is a Base Industries Group Production, produced by Rakesh Dang and Vedant Vikaas Baali. Produced by Firoz A. Nadiadwallah, Welcome To The Jungle gears up for a theatrical storm on June 26, 2026.