One of the most exciting aspects of ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ ahead of its release is the long-awaited reunion of Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon , who are sharing the screen together after a gap of 22 years. The two were once one of Bollywood's most talked-about couples in the 1990s, and it is director Ahmed Khan who has brought them back together on the big screen.
Ahmed Khan on how he made the casting happen
Opening up about how he pulled off this casting coup, Khan told Mid-day that his long-standing friendship with both actors played a big part in making it happen. "Both Raveena and Akshay have been such good friends of mine. We have known each other for over 30 years and because we go back so long, we know what has happened in each other's lives," he shared. When asked whether bringing two rumoured ex-lovers together on screen was a tricky task, the filmmaker saw it simply as an opportunity to deliver something special for the audience. "People will want to see Raveena and Akshay together, so why not do fan service?" he said. Khan also revealed that Akshay himself urged him to cast whoever was best suited for the role, without any hesitation.
Raveena Tandon had no reservations about working with Akshay Kumar
Khan revealed that Raveena didn't think twice when she found out Akshay was already on board. "She said, 'So what? We are all actors and grown up. We are all friends and we will have a blast on the sets,'" he recalled. While the two aren't paired romantically in Welcome To The Jungle, they do share several scenes together, including a song choreographed by Rahul Shetty and Prince Gupta. The reunion carries a special nostalgia, given that the duo gave Hindi cinema some of its most iconic moments, including Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast and Tip Tip Barsa Paani from Mohra (1994). And by the sounds of it, the magic was very much alive on set. "There is a sequence of Akshay and Raveena dancing together. The whole set clapped. Suniel Shetty , who also starred in Mohra, came in and said, 'Arre, mere Mohra ki jodi aa gayi'," Khan shared with a smile.
Ahmed Khan says Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon were friends on set
The filmmaker further added, “It’s a small industry and everybody grows over their past and moves on. Off set, Raveena and Akshay were friends only — joking, having fun, and talking about their kids. We reminisced about the past and work from earlier movies”
‘Welcome To The Jungle’ release date
‘Welcome To The Jungle’, directed by Ahmed Khan and produced by Firoz Nadiadwala, is all set to hit theatres on June 26.
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