The makers of Akshay Kumar's highly awaited comedy 'Welcome to the Jungle' are betting big on a bold pre-release strategy to maximise opening weekend collections. A paid preview has been scheduled for Thursday evening at 7:30 PM, one night before the official release, with tickets already on sale. Advance booking for regular shows opened on June 23.
Third Chapter of a Hit Franchise
'Welcome to the Jungle' is the third installment in Akshay Kumar's blockbuster Welcome franchise, directed by Ahmed Khan. The film carries added appeal as Raveena Tandon and Akshay Kumar are set to share the screen together after a gap of many years.
A Star-Studded Ensemble
Few Hindi films in recent memory have assembled a cast of this scale. Alongside Akshay Kumar, the film features Paresh Rawal, Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Disha Patani, Arshad Warsi, Shreyas Talpade, Tushar Kapoor, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Krishna Abhishek, Lara Dutta, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Kiku Sharda. Having this many celebrated names together in a single comedy is a rare spectacle in Hindi cinema.
Taking a Page from Dhurandhar
The paid preview format gained mainstream traction in Bollywood through Aditya Dhar's film 'Dhurandhar'. Trade analysts credit the paid preview screenings with delivering a significant boost to that film's box office earnings. The same approach was also used earlier for Akshay Kumar's 'Bhoot Bangla'. With 'Welcome to the Jungle' now adopting the same strategy, it is becoming increasingly clear that paid previews are fast cementing themselves as a standard pre-release move in the industry.
Preview on Thursday, Wide Release on Friday
'Welcome to the Jungle' will roll out in cinemas across the country on Friday, June 26. The night before, a paid preview is set for 7:30 PM on Thursday, for which booking is already open. Fans eager to be among the first to watch the film can book their seats now. Excitement for this comedy franchise has been building steadily in the run-up to the release.
Production Credits
The film is presented by A.A. Nadiadwala, Cape of Good Films, and Star Studios 18 in association with Sita Films and Rakesh Dang. The producers are Rakesh Dang and Vedant Vikas Bali, with Firoze A. Nadiadwala also on board as a producer.
