Our Bureau
Mumbai
Actress Raveena Tandon has defended Welcome to the Jungle against criticism over its lack of realism, urging audiences to treat the film as a comedy rather than expect logical storytelling. Her comments come as the Akshay Kumar-led entertainer crossed the ₹100 crore mark at the worldwide box office within four days of its release, marking a significant success for the Hindi film industry.
In an exclusive interview, Tandon said comedy films are designed to entertain and should not be judged on realism. Comparing Welcome to the Jungle with the works of Hollywood comedians Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, Leslie Nielsen and Steve Martin, she questioned why viewers expect logic from a genre built on absurd humour. She likened such expectations to searching for realism in a Mr. Bean episode.
The actress also expressed happiness that audiences are returning to cinemas after a challenging period for the film industry. She said that bringing people back to theatres through laughter and entertainment is currently more important than anything else.
Reflecting on the film’s production, Tandon described the experience of working with an ensemble cast of over 30 actors as “a picnic.” She recalled that the cast spent their breaks playing games, sharing meals and pulling pranks instead of retreating to vanity vans. Tandon added that co-star Akshay Kumar remained the biggest prankster on set, making the shoot enjoyable for everyone involved.
Directed by Ahmed Khan, Welcome to the Jungle is the third instalment in the popular Welcome franchise. Featuring a star-studded cast including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Jackie Shroff and Jacqueline Fernandez, the film’s strong box office performance has provided a welcome boost to Bollywood despite mixed critical responses.
