Akshay Kumar’s comedy Welcome To The Jungle released in cinemas on June 26 and on the first day at the box-office, it made Rs 15 crore which is a slow start, given the franchise’s goodwill and the star-cast of more than 30 actors. Amid mixed reviews from audiences and critics, the collections over the weekend are awaited.

Paid preview collections

Welcome To The Jungle opened to paid previews on June 25. It opened to moderate numbers and collected Rs 3.75 crore which is 91% less than what Dhurandhar: The Revenge minted on its paid previews that was Rs 44 crore.

The reviews for the comedy have been mixed but fans have praised Akshay Kumar’s commitment to the lunacy of the narrative.

On June 23, there was a grand musical event held with the star cast where the leading man spoke about a lot of things, but the one thing that has gone viral is where he says health is more important than money.

The action of the Welcome To The Jungle

The sequence is reminiscent of the time when Akshay had made a name for himself with physically challenging stunts long before the advent of CGI. His seamless screen presence in the airborne action set-piece has emerged as one of the talking points among early viewers, who have described it as a reminder of the actor’s signature action style.

What’s striking is the ease with which Kumar switches gears. One moment, he’s hanging off a helicopter in a pulse-pounding sequence; the next, he’s drawing laughs with his trademark comic timing. It’s a balance few actors have mastered over the years, and Welcome To The Jungle plays to that strength. The film allows him to be both the fearless action star and the comic performer who has fronted some of Hindi cinema’s most loved entertainers.