The new addition to the list is Welcome to the Jungle, which is scheduled to hold paid previews on June 25, a day before its official release.
The film thus becomes the second Akshay Kumar film this year to have paid previews after Bhooth Bangla, which brought in Rs.
3.65 crore nett in paid previews.
As things stand, Welcome to the Jungle is currently forecasted to open Rs.
With paid previews, that will need some adjustment now.
Paid previews have emerged as a growing trend in the Hindi film industry this year, with several releases opting for early paid shows ahead of their official opening day, including names like Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Bhooth Bangla and The Kerala Story 2. The new addition to the list is Welcome to the Jungle, which is scheduled to hold paid previews on June 25, a day before its official release.
The film thus becomes the second Akshay Kumar film this year to have paid previews after Bhooth Bangla, which brought in Rs. 3.65 crore nett in paid previews.
The objective behind paid previews is normally said to be to generate word-of-mouth a bit early, but practically speaking, what difference does it really make because the film is out in just a couple of hours anyway. The other rationale is to boost opening day numbers, as lately the opening day numbers are being reported including previews (at least officially) while in the past they were reported separately and were seen to be taking away from actual opening day. However, even this will be true only when a film is likely to face capacity issues and that extra show or two per screen helps. This was best seen with Dhurandhar: The Revenge.
As things stand, Welcome to the Jungle is currently forecasted to open Rs. 20-26 crore by Pinkvilla Predicts. With paid previews, that will need some adjustment now. Meanwhile, the presales for the film are set to commence on Monday. There is also a runtime update, with the film locked at 2 hours and 28 minutes.
For the unversed, the upcoming comedy caper marks the third instalment of the Welcome franchise. Choreographer-turned-director Ahmad Khan, best known for Baaghi 2, Baaghi 3, Heropanti 2, and others, has directed the film. It stars Akshay Kumar in the lead role, along with Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Jackie Shroff, Urvashi Rautela, Paresh Rawal, Johny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Daler Mehendi, and others.
Welcome To The Jungle is among the biggest bets from Bollywood this year. The much-awaited comedy entertainer is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on June 26, 2026.
Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates.
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