Joginder Tuteja

Twenty one years after they first came together as brothers in ‘Jaanbaaz’, Feroz Khan and Anil Kapoor will be reuniting in Aneez Bazmee’s ‘Welcome’. There is a difference though because while ‘Jaanbaaz’ was an action film with a dramatic appeal, ‘Welcome’ takes a comic route.

On being asked if this casting was planned, director  Bazmee says, “No, it was never planned like that. It just happened. Anil was already signed on when we started searching  for someone who would enact the senior part.”

While audiences would expect the ‘Jaanbaaz’ magic to be repeated by the Feroz-Anil combo, Bazmee reveals that working with Fardeen Khan in ‘No Entry’ also opened the doors for him.

“Ferozsaab liked the way Fardeen had acted in ‘No Entry’ and he credited me too for his performance. I expressed my wish of having him in ‘Welcome’ and soon dosti yaari mein sab kaam ho gaya. There are scenes, which feature both Ferozsaab and Anil. It would be nostalgic for those who saw them together in ‘Jaanbaaz’  21 years ago.”

Stationed in Gold Coast, Australia, where he is shooting his much hyped ‘Singh Is King’, Anees goes on to explain, “I have immense respect for Ferozsaab. As is a known fact he acts in very few films. I am privileged to have him on board for ‘Welcome’.” The film also stars Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar and Katrina Kaif and Mallika Sherawat as the female leads, ‘Welcome’ is looking at a 21st December release, the same day when Aamir Khan’s directorial debut ‘Taare Zameen Par’ will hit the screens.