Kamal Ghorui
Veteran actor Nana Patekar has weighed in on the growing chatter around Welcome 4, even as producer Firoz Nadiadwala recently confirmed that the fourth instalment of the hit comedy franchise is in the scripting stage. While fans are excited about the possible return of iconic characters, Nana has made it clear that he will come on board only if the film lives up to expectations.Reacting to reports of Welcome 4 and the return of characters like Uday Bhai, Nana told News18, “Kal mujhe Firoz Nadiadwala ne kuch bheja tha… usme Welcome 4 ka tha—ki main, Paresh Rawal aur Anil Kapoor wapas aa rahe hain. Mujhe nahi maloom—use maloom hai, toh usne bheja hoga.” (Yesterday, Firoz Nadiadwala sent me something… it mentioned Welcome 4—that I, Paresh Rawal, and Anil Kapoor are coming back. I’m not sure about it—he would know, so he must have sent it.)
‘Is genre mein stagnancy jaldi aa jaati hai’
While the possibility of a reunion excites fans, Nana Patekar was quick to highlight the pitfalls of comedy franchises.“Dekho, is genre ki filmein bahut jaldi stagnant ho jaati hain. Isme hansana nahi hota—logon ko apne aap hansi aani chahiye,” he said, stressing that humour cannot be forced. (Films in this genre tend to stagnate very quickly. It’s not about trying to make people laugh—people should naturally feel like laughing. You can keep making them, and yes, there will be funny moments, but they often feel more like mild amusement.)
He further explained that while such films may have amusing moments, sustaining them across multiple parts becomes challenging.“Aisi filmon mein kya hota hai—ek, do, teen, chaar part ban jaate hain… phir aap use aage badhane ki koshish karte ho, pata nahi kaise.” (After one, two, three, four parts, you start forcing it, and it becomes difficult to sustain freshness.)Despite his guarded stance, the actor didn’t dismiss the franchise’s legacy. “Agar behtareen hogi, toh zaroor karenge,” he said. (If it’s truly excellent, then of course I’ll do it.)
Welcome franchise: What we know so far
Welcome has remained one of Bollywood’s most loved comedy franchises since its first instalment released in 2007. The sequel, Welcome Back (2015), also struck gold at the box office. Now, the third film, Welcome To The Jungle, is gearing up for a theatrical release on June 26, 2026.Amid this, Firoz Nadiadwala has confirmed that Welcome 4 is already in the advanced stages of scripting. The producer has hinted at bringing back Uday Bhai (Nana Patekar), Majnu Bhai (Anil Kapoor), and Dr. Ghungroo (Paresh Rawal), promising a larger-than-life entertainer with multiple villains and a scale “like 10 on the Richter scale.”
