Welcome to the Jungle director Ahmed Khan has finally spoken up about the criticism surrounding Disha Patani and Jacqueline Fernandez having very limited roles in the film. Many viewers and critics pointed out that both actresses barely had any dialogues or screen time in the comedy. Now, the filmmaker has explained his side, saying the movie was always built around Bollywood’s biggest comedy stars.
The film, which hit theatres on June 26, 2026, brought together one of the largest ensemble casts in Bollywood history. With more than 30 actors in the movie, including big names like Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, and Arshad Warsi, it was always going to be tough to give everyone equal space. But the limited roles for Disha and Jacqueline sparked a debate online, with many questioning why the female leads had so little to do.
Ahmed Khan Says Comedy Kings Took the Spotlight
In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, Ahmed Khan addressed the criticism head-on. He explained that the film’s script was designed around some of Bollywood’s most loved comedy actors. According to him, adding more dialogues for the female actors wouldn’t have made much difference because the comedy veterans were already carrying the film.
“When you have such solid actors like Paresh Rawal, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Shreyas, Aftab, Arshad, Akshay; you know they are kings of comedy, inke beech mein ladkiyon ka dialogue daal ke kya hoga.”
He also mentioned that everyone on the set understood what kind of film they were making. The actors knew their roles and what was expected of them from the very beginning.
“So jab yeh bhi understood tha ke ‘we are here to be at this part’ and what does the heroine require? Heroine requires good scenes to be a part of.”
Ahmed made it clear that the focus was never on giving everyone equal dialogues. Instead, the goal was to make sure each character added something to the comedy.
Jacqueline Fernandez Played a Specific Comic Role
Ahmed Khan also broke down Jacqueline Fernandez’s character for everyone. He said her role was written as a “bimbo” who asks strange and shocking questions throughout the film. This was meant to create funny moments without needing long dialogues.
“She comes up with stupid questions every time. She comes up with such questions that people are really shocked in between ki kya pooch rahi hai?“
According to Ahmed, Jacqueline’s character adds to the humour in her own unique way. Even though she doesn’t have many lines, her presence on screen still creates laughs. He believes that her character works well within the comedy-driven format of the movie.
Disha Patani Kept Insulting Akshay Kumar Throughout the Film
Talking about Disha Patani‘s role, Ahmed Khan revealed that she plays Akshay Kumar‘s ex-girlfriend in the movie. Her main job in the film is to constantly insult him and make him jealous.
“Disha, throughout the film, is just insulting Akshay Kumar.”
He further explained that her character carries a lot of emotional baggage. She keeps calling him a cheater and tells him to get lost, but at the same time, she still has feelings for him.
“She is his ex, so she’s constantly trying to make him jealous. She’s always saying things like, ‘Go on then, Badshah… the biggest player, just get lost.’ That was her role throughout the film—to keep telling him, ‘Go away, leave from here.’ But at the same time, she still calls him a cheater, so her character also carries that emotional baggage.”
Ahmed said that Disha’s character serves a clear purpose in the story. Her constant insults and teasing create conflict and comedy at the same time.
Managing 34 Actors Was a Big Challenge
One of the biggest problems Ahmed Khan faced while making Welcome to the Jungle was handling such a massive cast. With 34 actors in total, it was simply impossible to give everyone equal screen time.
“Inn sab ke beech mein dekho we have so many actors you know 34 actors, 34 actors ka if you count char-char minute bhi gino toh poori picture ban jaati hai.”
He explained that if every actor got just four minutes of screen time, that alone would take up the entire movie. So, he had to make tough choices about who got more time on screen.
According to Ahmed, the actors themselves were happy with their roles. He believes that everyone understood the demands of the film and did their best with what they were given.
“I think I think that’s fair, and the girls are also happy.”
The Film Has Done Well at the Box Office
Despite all the criticism, Welcome to the Jungle has performed well at the box office. Within just six days of its release, the film crossed the Rs 125 crore mark worldwide. The movie has been holding steady and continues to draw audiences to theatres.
The film is the third instalment in the popular Welcome comedy franchise. It features a huge star cast, including Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Farida Jalal, Johnny Lever, Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor, Rajpal Yadav, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Daler Mehndi, and many others.
Fans and Critics Had Mixed Reactions
After the movie released, many viewers took to social media to express their disappointment over Disha Patani and Jacqueline Fernandez’s limited roles. Some called their characters “eye-candy” and felt they were wasted in the film. Critics also pointed out that the movie sexualises its leading ladies in the name of humour.
However, some fans defended the director, saying that with such a big cast, it’s normal for some actors to get less screen time. Others appreciated the comedy and the performances of the veteran actors.
Ahmed Khan Stands by His Creative Choices
Ahmed Khan made it clear that he stands by his decisions. He believes that the film works because of the ensemble cast and the comedy-driven format. He also said that the female actors knew exactly what they were signing up for.
He pointed out that Disha Patani and Jacqueline Fernandez have done a good job with the scenes they were given. Even though their roles were limited, they still managed to leave an impact on the audience.
The director also mentioned that the film’s female cast includes other talented actors like Raveena Tandon and Lara Dutta, who also had meaningful roles in the movie.
What the Actresses Think
According to Ahmed Khan, both Disha Patani and Jacqueline Fernandez are happy with their roles. He said that as far as he knows, they have no complaints about their screen time or dialogues. The actresses understood the nature of the film and were comfortable with what they were given.
This is an important point because it shows that the criticism may not reflect how the actresses themselves feel. They were aware of the film’s requirements and still chose to be a part of it.
The Welcome Franchise Continues
Welcome to the Jungle is the third movie in the Welcome series. The first film, Welcome (2007), starred Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, and Katrina Kaif. The second film, Welcome Back (2015), featured John Abraham, Shruti Haasan, and Anil Kapoor.
The franchise is known for its crazy comedy and larger-than-life characters. With Welcome to the Jungle, the makers tried to take things to the next level by bringing together a huge cast. The film’s plot revolves around a corrupt businessman who tries to launder black money by funding a film that is destined to flop. But things go wrong when everyone gets trapped in a dangerous jungle near the border.
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Final Thoughts from the Director
Ahmed Khan has made it clear that he did not intend to sideline the female actors. He simply made creative choices based on what the script demanded. With so many comedy legends in one film, the focus was naturally on them.
He also pointed out that giving more dialogues to Disha and Jacqueline would not have changed the film’s outcome. The comedy was already working because of the strong performances from the veteran actors.
“Among them, even if you give the women more dialogues, it doesn’t really make a difference.”
Ahmed’s comments have sparked further discussion online. Some people agree with him, while others feel that Bollywood still has a long way to go when it comes to giving meaningful roles to female actors.
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