Mumbai : Fans of Bollywood’s iconic comedy franchise Welcome have reason to celebrate as producer Firoz Nadiadwala has reportedly begun work on the fourth installment of the series. The upcoming film, tentatively titled Welcome 4, will bring back some of the franchise’s most beloved characters played by Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, and Paresh Rawal.
According to reports, Anil Kapoor will reprise his cult-favorite role of Majnu Bhai, Nana Patekar will return as the eccentric don Uday Shetty, while Paresh Rawal will once again appear as the hilarious Dr. Ghungroo. Bollywood star Akshay Kumar is also expected to be part of the film.
Script Nearing Completion
Reports suggest that the script for Welcome 4 is nearing completion. The story is expected to be different from the upcoming third installment, Welcome to the Jungle, and will revolve around the franchise’s original trio—Majnu Bhai, Uday Shetty, and Dr. Ghungroo.
Interestingly, while Paresh Rawal appears in Welcome to the Jungle, he will not portray his famous Dr. Ghungroo character in that film. Directed by Ahmed Khan, the third installment is slated to release in theatres on June 26, 2026, and is described as a large-scale adventure comedy featuring an ensemble cast.
The Legacy of the Welcome Franchise
The franchise began with the 2007 blockbuster Welcome, directed by Anees Bazmee. Made on a budget of around ₹32 crore, the film became a major hit, earning ₹70.13 crore in India and ₹119.50 crore worldwide.
The film featured a stellar cast including Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Paresh Rawal and Mallika Sherawat. It was loosely inspired by the Hollywood comedy Mickey Blue Eyes and also marked the final film appearance of veteran actor Feroz Khan. Cameos by Suniel Shetty and Malaika Arora added further star power.
Success of the Sequel
The sequel, Welcome Back, released in 2015 with John Abraham and Shruti Haasan joining the cast alongside Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar. Although Akshay Kumar was not part of the sequel, the film still performed strongly at the box office.
Made on a budget of about ₹48 crore, the movie earned ₹96.55 crore domestically and ₹130.34 crore worldwide, emerging as a commercial success.
Paresh Rawal Confirms Development
Veteran actor Paresh Rawal appeared to confirm the development by reposting the report on his X (formerly Twitter) account, writing simply “Jai Ho” along with folded hands emojis.
Meanwhile, his Welcome to the Jungle co-star Suniel Shetty also reacted on X, saying, “In times of chaos, some news just feels right. OG madness—Nana, Anil and Paresh—the heartbeat of the Welcome universe is back.”
Reports suggest that Welcome 4 may introduce multiple don characters as villains, promising new twists and a fresh wave of chaos in the franchise’s signature comedy style. Fans are now eagerly awaiting the return of the iconic trio that defined the humor and madness of the Welcome universe.
