Bollywood actor Raveena Tandon recently opened up about how comedy has changed over the years. She said that making people laugh today without upsetting anyone has become one of the hardest things for actors and filmmakers. The 90s star, who is known for her comic roles in films like Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Aunty No. 1, shared her thoughts in a recent interview with PTI.
Tandon, who has returned to the comedy genre with Ahmed Khan‘s multi-starrer Welcome to the Jungle, believes humour in the 90s was more free and easy. She said actors back then did not worry about how a joke would look on social media or if it would start an online debate.
“Making people laugh without someone getting offended is probably the ultimate tightrope walk today, it is tough. In the 90s, there was an uninhibited, innocent, and totally unapologetic madness to our films.”
Raveena Tandon on 90s Comedy and How Things Have Changed
Raveena Tandon credits comedy hits like Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Aunty No. 1, Dulhe Raja, and Pardesi Babu as the backbone of her career. But she pointed out that the comedy landscape has changed a lot since then. She said that in the 90s, she and her co-star Govinda would act on instinct without overthinking.
The actor explained that filmmakers today are always second-guessing themselves. They worry about how a joke might look in a short clip on the internet or if a line will cause a social media debate.
“That raw, purely character-driven, loud-and-proud humour of the 90s is rare now because filmmakers are constantly second-guessing themselves. We’ve become a bit too cautious, and comedy desperately needs freedom to breathe.”
Tandon said that the free-flowing and instinctive humour of the 90s is hard to find in today’s films. She believes that comedy needs space to be creative without fear of offending someone.
Welcome to the Jungle Marks Raveena Tandon’s Comeback to Comedy
Raveena Tandon recently returned to comedy with Welcome to the Jungle. The film is the third part of the Welcome franchise. The first film, Welcome, came out in 2007 and starred Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, and Nana Patekar. The second film, Welcome Back, released in 2015.
The new film is directed by Ahmed Khan and has a huge cast of more than 30 actors. The movie brings Raveena Tandon back together with her Mohra co-stars Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty. This reunion after more than two decades has created a lot of excitement among fans.
Tandon said that comedy has been a big part of her career and her identity in Bollywood. She shared that returning to comedy with Welcome to the Jungle felt like coming home.
“Comedy taught me spontaneity, improvisation, and the importance of losing all inhibitions on screen. It is an incredibly giving genre; if you can successfully make people laugh, they keep you in their hearts forever.”
Film Crosses Rs 100 Crore at the Box Office
Welcome to the Jungle hit theatres on June 26, 2026. The film has done well at the box office. It crossed Rs 100 crore worldwide within days of its release.
According to recent box office reports, the film has collected around Rs 87.65 crore in India and more than Rs 129 crore globally. The movie is on track to become one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 2026.
Raveena Tandon spoke about the film’s success in an interview with NDTV. She said that Welcome to the Jungle is a comedy spoof and a satire. She added that audiences should not expect logic from such a film.
“If they’re looking for realism, justifications and logic in a comedy film, then they haven’t seen many Hollywood comedies either. Do you expect logic from a Mr. Bean episode?”
Fans Praise Raveena Tandon’s Performance
Audience reactions to Welcome to the Jungle have been mixed but mostly positive. Many viewers have called the film a “laugh riot” and a fun entertainer.
Fans have especially praised Raveena Tandon for her performance. Many social media posts have called her the “show stealer” in the film. One review mentioned that Tandon got the “meatiest role” and acted really well throughout the film.
The reunion of Raveena Tandon and Akshay Kumar after 22 years has also been a major talking point. Their on-screen chemistry has brought back memories for fans who grew up watching 90s Bollywood.
Raveena Tandon on the Changing Space for Women in Comedy
Raveena Tandon also talked about how the space for women in comedy has changed. She said that in the 90s, heroines had more freedom to be funny and goofy on screen.
The actor praised Sridevi for her comic performances in films like Mr. India and Chaal Baaz. She called Sridevi the “gold standard” for female comic performances in Indian cinema. She also praised Juhi Chawla for her comic timing and mentioned yesteryear heroines like Geeta Bali and Madhubala.
Tandon said that today’s comedy films are more structured and plot-driven. She feels that the organic and playful space for comedy that existed in the 90s has shrunk.
In another interview, Tandon said that Welcome to the Jungle gives women equal space in comedy. She noted that in earlier films, heroines often only reacted to the hero. She believes things have improved, but there is still room for more women-led comedies.
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Comedy Has Been the Backbone of My Career, Says Raveena Tandon
Raveena Tandon said that comedy has been the backbone of her commercial identity. While serious films like Daman and Satta gave her critical praise and a National Award, it was comedy that connected her with the masses.
She shared that even young people who were not born in the 90s know her because of comedy clips on television and social media. This shows the lasting impact of her comic roles.
Tandon also said that she is a fan of Sridevi and credits the late actor for shaping her understanding of comedy. She believes Sridevi proved that a leading heroine could do slapstick comedy and still look great on screen.
The actor’s comments have started a conversation about how comedy has evolved in Bollywood. Many fans agree with her views and have shared their thoughts on social media. Some have pointed out that comedy today has to be more careful because of social media and changing audience expectations.
With Welcome to the Jungle still running in theatres, Raveena Tandon has made a strong comeback to the genre that made her a household name. Her honest views on the challenges of comedy today have resonated with many people who remember the carefree humour of the 90s.
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