Sunil ShettyWith whom he shared the screen Akshay Kumar Iconic films like ‘Hera Pheri’, ‘Dhadkaan’, ‘Awara Pagal Deewana’, ‘Mohra’ and more, opened up about reuniting with his frequent co-star in their latest outing ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, and reflected on what makes their on-screen rivalry so audience-pleasing.
Sunil Shetty on-screen rivalry with Akshay Kumar
In an interview with NDTV, Sunil Shetty discusses the playful tension that has defined his pairing with Akshay Kumar in several films and whether the dynamic in ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ supports their real-life star rivalry.He said, “More than competition, I think no matter how much tension Akshay and I have (in films), friendship is always there at the end. It always is. That’s the formula of Hindi films, and it’s always worked for us. Waqt hamara hai, take pawns and ‘dhadkan’; Conflict has always happened. And the audience also enjoys it. The director used that formula here too (Welcome to the Jungle) because Akshay and I are not together in the film.“Shetty also elaborated on the fun elements that her character brings to the film. He added, “It’s important for people to enjoy the moment, and that’s what’s shown. In the flop film, pulling each other’s legs, teasing each other. My character says, ‘I have to do what he’s doing.’ Of course, there’s a lot of fun.”
Sunil Shetty praised Akshay Kumar’s professionalism
Apart from the on-screen banter, Sunil Shetty also had warm words for his co-star off-camera. He said, “I appreciate how Akshay has managed his career, fitness and everything. His timing in comedy is different.”
More on ‘Welcome to the Jungle’
managed by Ahmed Khan And produced by Feroze A Nadiadwala, Rakesh Dang and Vedant Vikas Bali, Welcome to the Jungle has a huge ensemble cast including Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Jackie Shroff, Paresh Rawal, Lara Dutta, Farida Jalal, Johnny Lever, Shreya, Tupal, Tupal, Tushar, Rajputra. Krishna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Daler Mehndi, Aftab Shivdasani, and many more. The film released in theaters on June 26, 2026, with previews beginning Thursday.
